Charlotte Edwards, Digital Technology and Science Reporter
Mar 11 2021, 7:59 ET
Updated: Mar 11 2021, 10:38 ET
FRESH analysis of a 6200 year old mass grave suggests all 41 people inside were murdered by members of their own community in a random massacre.
The ancient grave was found in Croatia and a new study has revealed victims were of all ages from around two to 50 years old.
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The mass grave contained 41 victimsCredit: Novak et al, 2021, PLOS One
According to the study, many of the victims were killed with strikes to the skull from behind.
It s unlikely a lot of them knew they were about to be attacked as there s not a lot of skeletal evidence to suggest attempts at defence.
Analysis of Chilling Massacre Site Unearthed in Croatia Points to a Random Killing sciencealert.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sciencealert.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Horrifying ancient death pit where villagers butchered dozens of their own in random massacre thesun.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thesun.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Genetic analysis of skeletons from 6,200 years ago, found in a pit in Croatia, shows the victims were unrelated: Men, women and children appear to have been brutally slaughtered en masse