Archaeologists Identified Mass Grave Of ‘Viking Great Army’ In UK’s Vicarage Garden

A new report has revealed the discovery of a mass grave holding the skeletons of an army of Norse warriors invaded England several years ago, in a vicarage garden.

Source: CNN

Although the remains of nearly 300 Viking men had been found in the 1970s, when people dug up the bodies beneath a shallow mound by St Wystan’s Church vicarage in Repton, Derbyshire, only until now was the mystery surrounding their identities unraveled.

Source: CNN

Recently, a team of researchers at the University of Bristol has conducted radiocarbon dating analysis to find out that the remains were from the late 9^th century, matching the document data in which a “Viking Great Army” invaded England and exiled the King.

Source: CNN

Notoriously recognized by Anglo-Saxon historians as the “Great Heathen Army”, this joined force included warriors from across Scandinavia allied to invade England.
“The date of the Repton charnel bones is important because we know very little about the first Viking raiders that went on to become part of a considerable Scandinavian settlement of England,” said archaeologist Cat Jarman, who led the study.

Source: CNN

The mound where the bodies were found belonged to some types of burial monument to the Great Army, believed the experts, who also discovered another tomb alongside the mound holding the remains of 4 children, at least two of whom had evidence of traumatic wound.

Source: CNN

These skeletons may have been proof of sacrificial killings made to accompany the Viking dead, said the archaeologists who first excavated the location. Meanwhile, they also discovered trace of 264 bodies including mostly young men, alongside Viking weapons and relics.

Source: CNN

Marks of violent injury are also discovered in certain skeletons, strongly suggesting that they indeed came from an invading army. However, though the evidence were clear, early examination of the bones indicated that they weren’t actually from a band of Viking soldiers.
Specifically, the bones belonged to people buried over the course of several centuries. Ms Jarman revealed, “The previous radiocarbon dates from this site were all affected by something called marine reservoir effects, which is what made them seem too old.”

Source: CNN

“When we eat fish or other marine foods, we incorporate carbon into our bones that is much older than in terrestrial foods. This confuses radiocarbon dates from archaeological bone material and we need to correct for it by estimating how much seafood each individual ate.”
Jarman and the team of archaeologists found the exact date consistent with chronological documents of the Viking Great Army, thanks to a more intricate dating analysis method.

Source: CNN

“Although these new radiocarbon dates don’t prove that these were Viking army members it now seems very likely,” she said. “It also shows how new techniques can be used to reassess and finally solve centuries-old mysteries.”