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Honour killing? Scientists discover '600-year-old' graves of children in Norway with mysterious burial practises

Produced by: Tarun Mishra

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Credit: Museum of Cultural History

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Remarkable  Archaeological Find

Archaeologists in southern Norway were astonished by the discovery of numerous children's graves dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Credit: Museum of Cultural History

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Stone Marked Burials

Each burial was meticulously marked with circles of stones, a testament to ancient burial practices that have remained hidden for centuries.

Credit: Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo

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Discovery by Norwegian Museum

The find was made by a team from Norway's Museum of Cultural History, approximately 50 miles south of Oslo, near the Swedish border, last year.

Credit: Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo

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Details of the Burials

Guro Fossum, a museum archaeologist, described the discovery as uncovering 41 round stone formations, each up to six feet across, arranged in circles around a central zone.

Credit: Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo

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Artefacts and Discoveries

Further investigations revealed pottery shards and burned bones beneath the stone circles, shedding light on burial customs and rituals from 800 to 200 BC.

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Focus on Children

Most of the burials were of children, primarily infants and those aged three to six years, indicating a poignant aspect of ancient life and mortality.

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Uniqueness in Europe

According to the museum, the concentration of such ancient child graves is exceptionally rare in Europe, adding significance to the discovery.

Insights and Future Research

The archaeologists plan to analyze artefacts like metal brooches and pottery fragments found at the site, offering insights into cultural practices and daily life during that era.