14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier today, a team of archaeologists at the University of Reading in the UK announced the discovery of a human skeleton not far from the famed prehistoric monument Stonehenge.
The skeleton, shown in the photo below, was recovered from an archaeological site in the Vale of Pewsey in Wiltshire. It is estimated to be about 4,000 years old and appears to belong to a teenage boy.
The skeleton holds clues about life in the Bronze Age
In their report announcing this archaeological find, researchers at the University of Reading detail that the 4,000-year-old skeleton was recovered from the site of an ancient human settlement in the area.
When it was found, it was arranged in a fetal position. The arms were crossed over the chest, the legs were drawn up, and the head was turned to the right.
At least for now, it is unclear who this teenage boy was or why he died. His height at the time of death, i.e. 1.5 meters (4.9 feet), is the only thing the research team have so far learned about him.
Specialists plan to further examine the remains in an attempt to establish the cause of death, maybe even gain a better understanding of what life was like in present-day Wiltshire during the Bronze Age.
“The skeleton is a wonderful discovery which will help tell us what life was like for who lived under the shadow of Stonehenge at a time of frenzied activity.”
“Scientific analysis will provide information on gender of the child, diet, pathologies and date of burial. It may also shed light on where this young individual had lived,” explains archaeologist Jim Leary.
The teenager was buried with an amber necklace
The University of Reading archaeologists who led this most recent dig in Wiltshire say that, when his remains were pulled from the ground, the boy was wearing an amber necklace.
Whether this piece of jewelry was meant to offer him some protection against evil spirits or if perhaps it was merely an embellishment is yet to be determined.
Apart from this 4,000-year-old skeleton, the researchers exploring the Vale of Pewsey have so far come across plenty of ancient artifacts, among them pottery, bracelets, and even a Roman brooch.
Testifying to how people who lived in the area in ancient times made a living and kept enemies at bay, the scientists have also found blades and arrowheads.
