Scientists have discovered the brutal details of a massacre over 4000 years ago: cannibals ate 37 people

A collection of prehistoric human remains has revealed gruesome details about a brutal massacre that took place more than 4000 years ago. Researchers analyzed more than 3000 bones belonging to dozens of people from the Early Bronze Age Charterhouse Warren in southwest England.

The little-known collection of skeletal remains, which is unique to Britain, revealed that 37 people were killed, dismembered, and likely partially eaten before their remains were dumped into a natural 15-meter-deep shaft. The authors of the study believe that the cannibalism took place during a single event sometime between 2210 BC and 2010 BC, Newsweek writes.

"The Warren Charterhouse is one of those rare archaeological sites that challenges our understanding of the past. It's a vivid reminder that people in prehistory could be compared to recent atrocities and sheds light on the dark side of human behavior," said lead author Rick Schulting of Oxford University.

The cluster of bones at Charterhouse Warren was accidentally discovered in the 1970s by a group of cavers looking for a new cave system in the area. However, until the latest study, very little was known about the bones.

In an effort to shed light on what happened to these individuals, the research team analyzed the remains, finding numerous cuts, perimortem (i.e., made around the time of death) fractures, and blunt force trauma to the skull. The scientists' findings indicate that the victims were killed at close range with blunt instruments and then systematically dismembered and possibly partially eaten.

"The main thing we have shown is the size of the assemblage and the amount of evidence of violence," Schulting emphasized.

The researchers were also able to show that the bone assemblage represents at least 37 people, including men, women, and children, indicating a community.

"It is likely that there were even more, as we can only count a minimum number," added the lead author of the study.

Given that there were no signs of a fight, it is likely that the victims were caught off guard when they were attacked by their enemies. According to the scientists, the numerous cattle bones mixed with human remains at the site indicate that the attackers did not need to eat their victims due to lack of food. It was cannibalism that could have served the purpose of dehumanizing them, experts say.

The researchers then considered what could have motivated such acts of extreme violence. During this period, potential reasons for killing could have been theft, insults, and accusations of witchcraft, experts suggest.

Rick Schulting believes that the extreme violence they investigated was hardly an isolated incident.

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