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Scottish Sun
21 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Chilling execution of ‘washed up' Medieval woman revealed as experts say brutal punishment was a ‘warning to others'
Her body was laden with fractures resembling that of a car accident victim, according to experts THAMES DIG Chilling execution of 'washed up' Medieval woman revealed as experts say brutal punishment was a 'warning to others' THE remains of a roughly 1,200-year-old woman found on the shores of the River Thames have exposed the brutal punishment practices of early Medieval Britain. London between 600 to 800 AD, or Lundenwic as it was then known, was a very different place than it is today. Advertisement 3 The woman, whose remains have been categorised as UPT90 sk 1278 in museum records, was between the ages of 28 and 40 when she died Credit: Museum of London 3 The River Thames near Blackfriars Bridge, London Credit: Getty The settlement, which covered the area of modern-day Covent Garden, was made up of narrow, winding streets and buildings made of timber and straw. It had a population of roughly 8,000 people - a far cry from the 9.26million residents that live there today. The remains of one Londoner, believed to have lived during the early medieval period between 680 and 810 AD, act as an example of these practices. Lawbreakers appeared to be executed in the streets, according to experts, and their bodies were left to decompose for all to see as a warning to others. Advertisement READ MORE ON ARCHAEOLOGY DEEP DIG Ancient burial of 'Ice Prince' uncovered alongside dismembered sacrifice The woman, whose remains have been categorised as UPT90 sk 1278 in museum records, was between the ages of 28 and 40 when she died. She was not buried, but rather sandwiched between two sheets of bark, lying on a mat of reeds with moss pads placed on her face, pelvis, and knees. When the woman was first excavated in 1991, archaeologists noted that she was likely placed on the foreshore of the Thames where her remains were in public view. "The burial treatment of UPT90 sk 1278 lets us know that her body was meant to be visible on the landscape, which could be interpreted as a warning to witnesses," said Dr. Madeline Mant, who studied the remains once they were moved to the London Museum. Advertisement Dr. Mant and her colleagues published their findings in the journal World Archaeology. Biggest burial site in Greek history guarded by two headless sphinx unearthed and it could be tomb of Alexander the Great "We can tell from the osteobiography of this individual and their burial treatment that they were executed, but the specific offense is impossible to know for certain," she added. "We can only infer from the law codes of the period." Just two weeks before her death, the woman was subject to torturous beatings and an eventual execution, researchers wrote. Advertisement Her body was laden with over 50 individual signs of injury, with fractures on her shoulders and spine resembling that of a car accident victim, according to experts. The researchers believe the 9th-century woman may have been beaten or flogged - where a victim is repeatedly hit with a whip or a stick. The second round of injuries on her torso and skull suggest the woman was punched or kicked repeatedly, in what experts have likened to torture beatings. Her execution was a final blow to the left side of her head. Advertisement Dr. Mant said her death was likely a form of capital punishment, which were becoming increasingly common in the period the woman is understood to have lived. "Early Medieval England was a time of change regarding law codes - the law code of Æthelberht (c. 589–616) did not include corporal punishment, but that of Wihtred of Kent (690–725) outlined specific punishments, for instance, beatings for those who could not pay fines," explained Dr. Mant. "Capital punishments were also included when willed by the king. "As time passed, more crimes were associated with the death penalty under King Alfred (871–899). Advertisement "Crimes such as theft, treason, witchcraft, and sorcery could be met with the death penalty, which could be brought about by stoning or drowning." 3 An illustration of London in the early Medieval period Credit: Mola The woman's diet consisted of terrestrial foods, like grains, vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy, and eggs. However, her remains show a period of increased stable nitrogen values sometime after she turned 5-years-old. Advertisement This could mean the woman either began eating more meat, or she suffered a period of starvation, during which her body began breaking down its own fat and protein stores. Starvation was a significant threat in early Medieval London, particularly for those who migrated to the city.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Bizarre 1,350-year-old burial of blue-eyed ‘Ice Prince' uncovered alongside dismembered sacrifice and treasure
ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered the 1,350-year-old burial chamber of a young blue-eyed boy, packed full with ancient treasures. A small sword, rare silk clothes and a gold cross were just a handful of the items found with the child, indicating he came from a wealthy family. 5 He was buried in leather clothes, according to researchers, with a small sword on a richly decorated belt Credit: BLfD 5 The boy, who experts believe was 2.5-years-old when he died, was buried with silver bracelets on his arms and silver spurs attached to his shoes Credit: BLfD 5 One of the boy's garments was a long-sleeved shirt made from linen and trimmed with strips of silk Credit: BLFD He was buried in leather clothes, according to researchers, with a small sword on a richly decorated belt. The boy, who experts believe was 2.5-years-old when he died, was buried with silver bracelets on his arms and silver spurs attached to his shoes, according to a statement from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD). The boy has been dubbed the "Ice Prince" because archaeologists flash froze the burial chamber using liquid nitrogen to excavate its contents in a single block over 14 hours. DNA analysis suggested the boy had blue eyes and light-colored hair, while radiocarbon dating indicates he died between A.D. 670 and 680. READ MORE ON ARCHAEOLOGY A new study of the burial, which was first discovered in the town of Mattsies in Bavaria in 2021, has revealed the body was laid on a fur blanket within the chamber. One of the boy's garments was a long-sleeved shirt made from linen and trimmed with strips of silk. Silk was hard to come by at the time, and was only available through the Byzantine Empire, according to LiveScience. The cross, made from thin strips of gold, may also indicate early Christian beliefs, before Bavaria was Christianised in the eighth century. Most read in Science A bronze basin, a comb, a wooden bowl and a drinking cup with silver fittings were also placed on a woven mat at the foot of the body. Dozens of medieval skeletons in mysterious stone coffins unearthed by man renovating his cellar The remains of hazelnuts, apples and a pear were also found, alongside dismembered remains of an animal. Experts first thought these bones belonged to a dog. However, the creature has since been identified as a piglet, which may have been cooked and placed as a food offering. The latest analysis from BLfD suggests the child died of a "chronic infection" in the middle-ear. "The boy's death must have shocked his regionally important family," the statement said. "They apparently made great efforts to give the child a burial in keeping with his social status." The burial chamber was made of stone, with a stone ceiling that sealed the remains and artefacts off from the world for 1,350 years. The entire burial, therefore, was in "excellent condition," according to the experts. While silk is relatively durable, it is still susceptible to degrading over time, which can make long-term preservation challenging. However, the tightly sealed was able to preserve much of the fabric, researchers said. 5 The boy has been dubbed the "Ice Price" because archaeologists flash froze the burial chamber to excavate its contents in a single block Credit: BLFD 5 The latest analysis from BLfD suggests the child died of a "chronic infection" in the middle-ear Credit: BLFD
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Bizarre 1,350-year-old burial of blue-eyed ‘Ice Prince' uncovered alongside dismembered sacrifice and treasure
The remains of hazelnuts, apples and a pear were also found, alongside dismembered remains of an animal ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered the 1,350-year-old burial chamber of a young blue-eyed boy, packed full with ancient treasures. A small sword, rare silk clothes and a gold cross were just a handful of the items found with the child, indicating he came from a wealthy family. Advertisement 5 He was buried in leather clothes, according to researchers, with a small sword on a richly decorated belt Credit: BLfD 5 The boy, who experts believe was 2.5-years-old when he died, was buried with silver bracelets on his arms and silver spurs attached to his shoes Credit: BLfD 5 One of the boy's garments was a long-sleeved shirt made from linen and trimmed with strips of silk Credit: BLFD He was buried in leather clothes, according to researchers, with a small sword on a richly decorated belt. The boy, who experts believe was 2.5-years-old when he died, was buried with silver bracelets on his arms and silver spurs attached to his shoes, according to a statement from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD). The boy has been dubbed the "Ice Prince" because archaeologists flash froze the burial chamber using liquid nitrogen to excavate its contents in a single block over 14 hours. DNA analysis suggested the boy had blue eyes and light-colored hair, while radiocarbon dating indicates he died between A.D. 670 and 680. Advertisement A new study of the burial, which was first discovered in the town of Mattsies in Bavaria in 2021, has revealed the body was laid on a fur blanket within the chamber. One of the boy's garments was a long-sleeved shirt made from linen and trimmed with strips of silk. Silk was hard to come by at the time, and was only available through the Byzantine Empire, according to LiveScience. The cross, made from thin strips of gold, may also indicate early Christian beliefs, before Bavaria was Christianised in the eighth century. Advertisement A bronze basin, a comb, a wooden bowl and a drinking cup with silver fittings were also placed on a woven mat at the foot of the body. Dozens of medieval skeletons in mysterious stone coffins unearthed by man renovating his cellar The remains of hazelnuts, apples and a pear were also found, alongside dismembered remains of an animal. Experts first thought these bones belonged to a dog. However, the creature has since been identified as a piglet, which may have been cooked and placed as a food offering. Advertisement The latest analysis from BLfD suggests the child died of a "chronic infection" in the middle-ear. "The boy's death must have shocked his regionally important family," the statement said. "They apparently made great efforts to give the child a burial in keeping with his social status." The burial chamber was made of stone, with a stone ceiling that sealed the remains and artefacts off from the world for 1,350 years. Advertisement The entire burial, therefore, was in "excellent condition," according to the experts. While silk is relatively durable, it is still susceptible to degrading over time, which can make long-term preservation challenging. However, the tightly sealed was able to preserve much of the fabric, researchers said. 5 The boy has been dubbed the "Ice Price" because archaeologists flash froze the burial chamber to excavate its contents in a single block Credit: BLFD Advertisement
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Bizarre 1,350-year-old burial of blue-eyed ‘Ice Prince' uncovered alongside dismembered sacrifice and treasure
ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered the 1,350-year-old burial chamber of a young blue-eyed boy, packed full with ancient treasures. A small sword, rare silk clothes and a gold cross were just a handful of the items found with the child, indicating he came from a wealthy family. 5 5 5 He was buried in leather clothes, according to researchers, with a small sword on a richly decorated belt. The boy, who experts believe was 2.5-years-old when he died, was buried with silver bracelets on his arms and silver spurs attached to his shoes, according to a statement from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD). The boy has been dubbed the "Ice Prince" because archaeologists flash froze the burial chamber using liquid nitrogen to excavate its contents in a single block over 14 hours. DNA analysis suggested the boy had blue eyes and light-colored hair, while radiocarbon dating indicates he died between A.D. 670 and 680. A new study of the burial, which was first discovered in the town of Mattsies in Bavaria in 2021, has revealed the body was laid on a fur blanket within the chamber. One of the boy's garments was a long-sleeved shirt made from linen and trimmed with strips of silk. Silk was hard to come by at the time, and was only available through the Byzantine Empire, according to LiveScience. The cross, made from thin strips of gold, may also indicate early Christian beliefs, before Bavaria was Christianised in the eighth century. A bronze basin, a comb, a wooden bowl and a drinking cup with silver fittings were also placed on a woven mat at the foot of the body. The remains of hazelnuts, apples and a pear were also found, alongside dismembered remains of an animal. Experts first thought these bones belonged to a dog. However, the creature has since been identified as a piglet, which may have been cooked and placed as a food offering. The latest analysis from BLfD suggests the child died of a "chronic infection" in the middle-ear. "The boy's death must have shocked his regionally important family," the statement said. "They apparently made great efforts to give the child a burial in keeping with his social status." The burial chamber was made of stone, with a stone ceiling that sealed the remains and artefacts off from the world for 1,350 years. The entire burial, therefore, was in "excellent condition," according to the experts. While silk is relatively durable, it is still susceptible to degrading over time, which can make long-term preservation challenging. However, the tightly sealed was able to preserve much of the fabric, researchers said. 5 5
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Blue-eyed 'Ice Prince' toddler was buried with a sword and a piglet 1,350 years ago in Bavaria
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A blue-eyed boy buried in southern Germany more than 1,300 years ago was interred with rare riches — including a small sword, silk clothes and a gold cross — indicating that he came from a wealthy local family before he died of an infection at about 18 months old, a new analysis finds. The remains of the child, dubbed the "Ice Prince" because archaeologists flash froze the burial chamber to excavate its contents in a single block, were discovered in 2021 near the town of Mattsies in Bavaria. The child's tomb was found south of the Upper Germanic Limes that once defined the Roman frontier. But the Western Roman Empire was extinguished in this area when Germanic tribes invaded in the early fifth century — centuries before the boy died in the seventh century. The latest research includes anatomical studies that estimated the boy was about 1.5 years old when he died, and radiocarbon dating that indicates he died between A.D. 670 and 680. A strontium isotope analysis of the enamel on his teeth indicated he was born in the region and had fed mainly on breast milk. Analysis of his DNA suggested the boy had blue eyes and light-colored hair. The studies also indicated that he had died from "chronic infection" caused by a middle-ear infection. The boy was buried in leather clothes and with a small sword on a richly decorated belt. Other details of the well-furnished grave and the rare remnants of a silk garment — a sign of wealth — indicated that the boy came from a locally important family, archaeologists for the German state of Bavaria said in a translated statement. Related: 1,800-year-old warhorse cemetery held remains of a beloved horse — and a man considered an 'outsider' to Roman society The toddler's stone burial chamber was discovered amid the remains of a Roman-age villa near Mattsies during excavations for new buildings, according to the translation of a 2021 statement. Archaeologists said the villa seemed to have been repurposed as a burial place for the child, perhaps in line with the concerns of his family. "The boy's death must have shocked his regionally important family," the statement said. "They apparently made great efforts to give the child a burial in keeping with his social status." The stone ceiling and walls of the burial chamber were tightly sealed against sediment, so the entire burial was in "excellent condition," the statement said. State government archaeologists decided to flash freeze the contents of the entire burial chamber using liquid nitrogen so it could be excavated as a single block over 14 hours. The researchers used liquid nitrogen because its temperature of minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 196 degrees Celsius) prevents freezing water from creating large and destructive ice crystals, the statement said. Image 1 of 3 The boy was about 18 months old when he died, but he was buried with a small sword and scabbard on a richly-decorated belt. Image 2 of 3 The latest studies have revealed new details of the sword, scabbard and belt buried with the young boy. Image 3 of 3 The "Ice Prince" was buried wearing silver bracelets and had silver spurs attached to his shoes. The latest studies reveal that the body was laid on a fur blanket within the chamber and that one of the boy's garments was a long-sleeved shirt made from linen and trimmed with strips of silk. At that time, silk was available only through the Byzantine Empire, and it was a rare status symbol. The fabrics' exceptional preservation due to the tightly sealed grave makes them an even more exceptional find, the researchers said. The boy was buried with silver bracelets on his arms and silver spurs attached to his shoes, according to the statement. Nowadays, most toddlers start walking at between 8 and 18 months of age, so it's possible this toddler had started walking before his death. The burial chamber also contained a cloth decorated with a cross made from thin strips of gold, which may indicate early Christian beliefs; Bavaria didn't become fully Christianized until after Charlemagne conquered it in the eighth century. In addition, several grave goods — including a bronze basin, a comb, a wooden bowl and a drinking cup with silver fittings — had been placed on a woven mat at the foot of the body. RELATED STORIES —1st-century burial holds Roman doctor buried with medical tools, including 'top-quality' scalpels —Archaeologists discover rare liquid gypsum burial of 'high-status individual' from Roman Britain —Remains of Roman mercenary and beheaded victim found at ancient site in UK The archaeologists also found the remains of hazelnuts, apples and a pear, which were presumably whole when they were placed in the burial chamber. What were once thought to be the bones of a dog have now been identified as the dismembered remains of a piglet, which may have been cooked and placed as a food offering. The investigations have also shown that the building where the Ice Prince was found was renovated twice in the years after the burial, which indicated that the site was used over a long period as a place of remembrance of the dead, the statement said.
