archaeologists unearth sweden's own pompeii.pdf

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Archaeologists unearth Sweden's ownPompeii: Hundreds died in 'brutal massacre'at island fort 1,500 years ago

Violent attack took place on the island of land, just off the Swedish coastBodies of the victims have remained 'frozen in time' since the 5th centuryWhy the fort has been left untouched for 1,500 years remains a mystery

By Daniel Miller

PUBLISHED:16:16 GMT, 5 October 2013 | UPDATED:17:24 GMT, 5 October 2013

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Swedish archeologists have uncovered the remains of a brutal fifth century massacre at a remoteisland fort, described as being 'frozen in time' like the ruins of the Roman city of Pompeii.

Bodies of victims slaughtered in the violence on the island of land, just off the Swedish coast, haveremained untouched for centuries, and were found to resemble a modern day crime scene.

Before they attack, the fort appears to have been a peaceful and prosperous place, where people livedcomfortably in small huts and reared livestock for meat.

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Crime scene: Swedish archaeologists have unearthed a brutal 5th century massacre atan island fort

But their peace was shattered when a group of unknown men burst in one night, butchering theresidents in a vicious and unexplained attack.

Helene Wilhelmson, a researcher who specializes in the study of bones at Sweden's Lund University,said: 'It's more of a frozen moment than you normally see in archaeology.

'It's like Pompeii: Something terrible happened, and everything just stopped.'


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Murdered: An archaeologist examines the body of one of the victims found lying flat onits face inside the fort

Preserved: The site on the island of land, just off the Swedish coast, has remaineduntouched for centuries, and resembled a modern day crime scene


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Archaeologists discover site 1,500-year-old 'Swedish Pompeii'

So far five bodies have been unearthed amid the ruins of one of the huts. Two were found lying next tothe door as if they had been slaughtered as they tried desperately to escape.

Why the fort has been left untouched for 1,500 years remains a mystery. One theory is that the locationbecame taboo after the massacre, with people simply too terrified to set foot there.


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At an earlier excavation in 2010 the team discovered gilded brooches, raising questionsas to why they were not plundered in the wake of the massacre

Human bones have been found in other parts of the fort, making it highly likely that many more bodiesare yet to be dug out.

The Roman city of Pompeii was destroyed when the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79showering in 20ft (6m) of superheated ash.

The ash effectively preserved the city and enabled archaeologists to create plaster casts of many ofthe victims, captured in their death throes.


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dt54,Gotham, 14 hours ago

Very interesting, but nothing like Pompeii at all.

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Niick40,Brighton, 15 hours ago

Very interesting!



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McIver3,San Diego, 15 hours ago

I always wanted to be an archaeologist from watching too many Indiana Jones movies but then I realized how much timethey spend digging in the hot sun, bent over, and I realized it was more fun to read about their discoveries andadventures....


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IMO,privatedomain, Canada, 15 hours ago

Nothing has changed in 1,500 yrs for the Taliban. Just as the attackers were then, a ruthless, bloodthirsty lot.


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EMT,London, United Kingdom, 15 hours ago

1500 years ago? Roughly the same time period when the rest of Europe was under Arab invasion and slaughter feist. Andthat is probably where the answer is.


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seanhardware,Cork, Ireland, 16 hours ago

It says a group of unknown men burst in one night......how do you know it was night time?


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archaeologists unearth sweden's own pompeii.pdf

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