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Brits Uncover Mass Grave of Headless Vikings

Archaeologists thrilled by bones of 51 Scandinavians

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 12, 2010 2:14 AM CST | Updated Mar 12, 2010 5:50 AM CST

(Newser) – Road builders in southern England uncovered the remains of what's proven to be 51 Vikings who came to a bad end sometime around 1000 AD. Archaeologists believe the men, mostly in their late teens and early 20s were beheaded in front of an audience. Analysis of their teeth found that they came from across Scandinavia, with one man traveling from north of the Arctic Circle, the BBC reports.

The men's skulls were found neatly stacked in one corner of the mass grave and their skeletons dumped in another. Archaeologists say this is one of the biggest mass graves of foreigners ever found in Britain. They believe the men were executed by local Anglo-Saxons, who were plagued by Viking raids at the time.

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The "Jarl Squad," dressed in Viking costumes on a replica long ship, take part in the Up Helly Aa festival in the Shetland Isles. (AP Photo/PA, Danny Lawson)

Silent but deadly traders (©vortistic)

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To find out that the young men executed were Vikings is a thrilling development. Any mass grave is a relatively rare find, but to find one on this scale, from this period of history, is extremely unusual.
- Archaeologist David Score

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Showing 3 of 16 comments

carolb123

Mar 22, 2010 5:16 PM CDT

I don't know how many of you really care so....but we are actually studying this in school. England actually means anglo land, as in land of the anglos.The Britons were actually a seperate group of people, as horrible as beheading is....the vikings were always invaded, raiding, raping and torturing the anglo saxons so this was kinda pay back

carolb123

Mar 22, 2010 5:10 PM CDT

I don't know how many of you really care so....but here it is-- we are actually studying this in school. England actually means anglo land as in the land of the anglos. The Britons were a totally different group of people. As much as beheading is a horrible thing, the vikings kind of raided, raped and tortured the anglo saxons so....this was kinda pay back.

adokastone

Mar 14, 2010 7:33 AM CDT

Vampire vikings!!

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Brits Uncover Mass Grave of Headless Vikings