Unearthing Britain's Darkest Chapter: The Early Bronze Age Massacre at Charterhouse Warren

A recent study has shed light on one of prehistoric Britain’s most gruesome episodes: the massacre of at least 37 individuals at Charterhouse Warren, Somerset, around 4,000 years ago. This discovery, led by Professor Rick Schulting of the University of Oxford, challenges the notion of the Early Bronze Age as a peaceful era and reveals a chilling narrative of violence and dehumanization.

The Discovery

The remains—over 3,000 bone fragments—were first unearthed in the 1970s but largely overlooked until now. Found in a 15-meter-deep natural shaft, these bones belonged to men, women, and children, with nearly half being adolescents. The evidence indicates that the victims were killed, dismembered, and possibly cannibalized before their remains were discarded.

Gruesome Evidence

Analysis revealed cut marks, shattered skulls, and signs of defleshing and marrow extraction. Some bones even bore human bite marks. Researchers believe this brutality was not driven by survival needs but as an act of ritualistic "othering" or vengeance. The attackers likely sought to dehumanize their victims and send a powerful message to others.

Significance

This massacre represents the largest known act of interpersonal violence in Early Bronze Age Britain. It starkly contrasts with the era’s typical archaeological focus on trade, farming, and burial practices. The findings highlight how prehistoric communities were capable of extreme violence akin to modern atrocities

Schulting RJ, Fernández-Crespo T, Ordoño J, et al. ‘The darker angels of our nature’: Early Bronze Age butchered human remains from Charterhouse Warren, Somerset, UK. Antiquity. Published online 2024:1-17. doi:10.15184/aqy.2024.180