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| Decapitated group 'were Vikings' | Decapitated group 'were Vikings' |
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| Fifty-one decapitated skeletons found in a burial pit in Dorset were those of Scandinavian Vikings, scientists say. | Fifty-one decapitated skeletons found in a burial pit in Dorset were those of Scandinavian Vikings, scientists say. |
| Mystery has surrounded the identity of the group since they were discovered at Ridgeway Hill, near Weymouth, in June. | Mystery has surrounded the identity of the group since they were discovered at Ridgeway Hill, near Weymouth, in June. |
| Analysis of teeth from 10 of the men revealed they had grown up in countries with a colder climate than Britain's. | Analysis of teeth from 10 of the men revealed they had grown up in countries with a colder climate than Britain's. |
| Archaeologists from Oxford believe the men were probably executed by local Anglo Saxons in front of an audience sometime between AD 910 and AD 1030. | Archaeologists from Oxford believe the men were probably executed by local Anglo Saxons in front of an audience sometime between AD 910 and AD 1030. |
| The Anglo Saxons were increasingly falling victim to Viking raids and eventually the country was ruled by a Danish king. | The Anglo Saxons were increasingly falling victim to Viking raids and eventually the country was ruled by a Danish king. |
| The mass grave is one of the largest examples of executed foreigners buried in one spot. | The mass grave is one of the largest examples of executed foreigners buried in one spot. |
| Any mass grave is a relatively rare find, but to find one on this scale, from this period of history, is extremely unusual David Score, Oxford Archaeology class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/8563719.stm">In pictures: Burial pit | |
| It was discovered during investigative excavation work before construction started on a controversial £87m relief road through the ridgeway. | It was discovered during investigative excavation work before construction started on a controversial £87m relief road through the ridgeway. |
| Samples of 10 remains were identified as Scandinavian by Dr Jane Evans and Carolyn Chenery, of NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, part of the British Geological Survey, based in Nottingham. | Samples of 10 remains were identified as Scandinavian by Dr Jane Evans and Carolyn Chenery, of NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, part of the British Geological Survey, based in Nottingham. |
| Their work has revealed that the men had scattered Scandinavian origins, with one even thought to be from north of the Arctic Circle. | Their work has revealed that the men had scattered Scandinavian origins, with one even thought to be from north of the Arctic Circle. |
| Isotopes in the men's teeth also show they had eaten a high protein diet, comparable with known sites in Sweden. | Isotopes in the men's teeth also show they had eaten a high protein diet, comparable with known sites in Sweden. |
| Initially, it was thought the burial site dated from the Iron Age (from 800 BC) to early Roman times (from AD 43) after examining pottery in the pit, later identified as a Roman quarry. | Initially, it was thought the burial site dated from the Iron Age (from 800 BC) to early Roman times (from AD 43) after examining pottery in the pit, later identified as a Roman quarry. |
| Isotope testing was carried out on the men's teeth | Isotope testing was carried out on the men's teeth |
| Radiocarbon dating later revealed they were from the Saxon period. | Radiocarbon dating later revealed they were from the Saxon period. |
| Oxford Archaeology removed the 51 skulls from the ground and are continuing to examine the remains to try to link the find to historical events. | Oxford Archaeology removed the 51 skulls from the ground and are continuing to examine the remains to try to link the find to historical events. |
| Project manager David Score said: "To find out that the young men executed were Vikings is a thrilling development. | Project manager David Score said: "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." | "Any mass grave is a relatively rare find, but to find one on this scale, from this period of history, is extremely unusual." |
| He added that without analysing all the bodies it was impossible to know for certain that all the skeletons were those of Vikings, but it was possible to make a "strong inference". | He added that without analysing all the bodies it was impossible to know for certain that all the skeletons were those of Vikings, but it was possible to make a "strong inference". |
| The archaeologists believe the men were stripped naked either before being killed, or before being buried, because there was no evidence of clothing, such as pins or toggles. | The archaeologists believe the men were stripped naked either before being killed, or before being buried, because there was no evidence of clothing, such as pins or toggles. |
| Most of them were in their late teens to early 20s, with a handful in their 30s. | Most of them were in their late teens to early 20s, with a handful in their 30s. |