Remains in Dorset burial pit may be 2,000 years old

[Ludovicus]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/jun...road-burial-pit

 

 

The skulls of scores of young men have been found in a burial pit on the route of a new road in Dorset.

So far 45 skulls, believed to be almost 2,000 years old, have been found, and more may be found as the pit is emptied. Archaeologists have called the discovery extraordinary, saying it could be evidence of a disaster, a mass execution, a battle or possibly an epidemic.

[caldrail]

Why would victims of disease be beheaded? Given that these remains were in the territory of the Durotriges tribe, who weren't exactly friendly to Roman interests, and that the remains date from Vespasians conquest of the area, it's hard not to reach a certain conclusion.

[sylla]

Why would victims of disease be beheaded? Given that these remains were in the territory of the Durotriges tribe, who weren't exactly friendly to Roman interests, and that the remains date from Vespasians conquest of the area, it's hard not to reach a certain conclusion.

We essentially agree here; however, being the skulls together doesn't necessarily imply decapitation (SIC):

"As well as the skulls, the archaeologists found torso and leg bones buried in separate sections of the pit".

This separate burying might have been done for ritual reasons.

Edited June 15, 2009 by sylla