Honour killing? Scientists discover '600-year-old' graves of children in Norway with mysterious burial practises
Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Credit: Museum of Cultural History
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.