The Viking Grave of Ridgeway Hill - Vikings: The Lost Realm - S01 EP4 - History Documentary
Banijay History・2 minutes read
A mass grave from the Viking age was discovered on Ridgeway Hill in Dorset, with 52 skulls and 55 skeletons found, showing signs of decapitation. The skeletons were determined to be of Scandinavian origin, challenging traditional views of Viking warriors and prompting a reevaluation of Viking-Anglo-Saxon interactions in Britain.
Insights
- The mass grave discovered at Ridgeway Hill in Dorset in 2009 contained beheaded bodies heaped together, dating back to the late 10th or early 11th century, challenging initial assumptions of an Iron Age origin. The individuals, likely Anglo-Saxons killed by Viking raiders, were confirmed to be of Scandinavian origin, shedding new light on Viking-Anglo-Saxon interactions in Britain.
- Osteologist Louise Lowe's analysis of the skeletons revealed brutal trauma from decapitations likely carried out with a heavy blade, potentially symbolizing judicial executions. The lack of healed trauma on the individuals suggests they were not experienced soldiers, sparking questions about their capture, trial, and execution near the coast at a site that may have served as an ancient boundary for executions, altering historical perspectives on Viking presence in the region.
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Recent questions
What was discovered on Ridgeway Hill in Dorset?
A mass grave with beheaded bodies from the Viking age.
Who excavated the mass grave on Ridgeway Hill?
Oxford Archaeology conducted the excavation.
What did the radiocarbon dating reveal about the skeletons?
They were from the late 10th or early 11th century.
What insights did osteologist Louise Lowe provide?
She noted brutal trauma from decapitation on the skeletons.
What historical significance did the discovery hold?
It prompted a reconsideration of Viking-Anglo-Saxon interactions in Britain.
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