Medieval mass grave hints at gruesome secret

CBS News ^ | Jan 25, 2012 | Staff

[Islander7]

(CBS News) A gruesome mass grave found in southern England may be the final resting place of some of the most feared marauders of the 11th century.

Archeologists say the remains may belong to Viking mercenaries, who were buried in a burial pit in what now is the English town of Dorset. Isotope testing on the men's teeth links their origin to Scandinavia. That's where the easy clues end.

[Islander7]

"The legends and stories of the Jomsvikings travelled around the medieval world and would almost certainly have been indicative of some of the practices of other bands of mercenaries or may even have been imitated by other groups," Baillie said.

You can read more about this story at the University of Cambridge website.

[Islander7]

Ping

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

“...the Ridgeway Hill individuals were systematically executed. They were beheaded from the front – just like the warriors in the Jomsviking saga. In the saga, one captured Viking says: ‘I am content to die as are all our comrades. But I will not let myself be slaughtered like a sheep. I would rather face the blow. Strike straight at my face and watch carefully if I pale at all.’”

[dr_lew]

I read more, and it was as clear as mud.

[max americana]

The Vikings discovered America..supposedly.

[goat granny]

I like what the american indian warriors would say before a battle....it is a good day to die......(at least thats what they said in a John Wayne movie)

[ApplegateRanch]

I prefer the Patton* version, “it’s a good day for the enemy b******s to die!”

*There is no hint of evidence that General Patton ever said this, but it sounds like something he would have said.

[barbarianbabs]

everyone hates my people...UFFDA

[Islander7]

Not at all. I share that blood line myself.

[dr_lew]

That was in Little Big Man, and I doubt they copied it from a John Wayne movie.

[TigersEye]

The Lakota Sioux did say that. I believe Mari Sandoz wrote about that in Crazy Horse: The Strange Man of the Oglalas.

[wolficatZ]

“The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his.”

[wolficatZ]

CBS is dumbed down ObamaMSMmedia. Nice pics at the Mail:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2091401/Viking-death-squads-mass-grave-shows-Anglo-Saxons-hit-invaders.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[Ernie Kaputnik]

From the movie “Patton”:

“No SOB ever wins a war by dying for his country. He wins the war by the making the dumb SOB he’s fighting against die for his country.”

[sphinx]

This is a tough one: Viking invaders executed by the Anglo-Saxons. Who does Obama apologize to?

[sphinx]

A second thought: I wonder if the skeletons show injuries other than the beheadings. If these men were taken in battle, I would have expected evidence of other wounds prior to execution on at least some of the remains.

[proxy_user]

Rules for Vikings: When raiding remote towns, do not linger in the area. Load up your ships with the loot and captives, and sail away at once. Do not drink any captured beer or liquor, or hold a party on the beach.

Although these areas can seem remote, powerful bodies of troops may be stationed nearby, and can march 20 or 30 miles in a few hours.

[NCDragon]

A slight correction if I may?

“Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.”

Gen. Patton Speech; 3rd Army Speech - England; 31 MAY 1944 -6th Armored Division (and protrayed wonderfully by George C Scott in the movie Patton.) :)

[RegulatorCountry]

This is a tough one: Viking invaders executed by the Anglo-Saxons. Who does Obama apologize to?

I may be mangling my English geography but I believe Dorsetshire is in the southwest, which was a Celt holdout. Tenth century, there wouldn't have been a great deal of Saxon influence yet. But, he'd likely view it as we'd view a van full of lawyers crashing through a bridge railing and falling into shark-infested waters ... a start.

[goat granny]

sure does sound like something he'd say....did you see the picture some freeper posted of Patton peeing in the Rhine river during WW2? Its something of military tradition when taking over enemy country to being in their river....was posted when all the SHTF last week about our boys doing the same on an enemy.

But like Col. West said, if you have never been in a war S U. But did think they should have been made to apologize to God and their fellow marines, but war is Hell, if you have not been there, don't judge these marines...

I agree, shit happens after a battle. They didn't cut off any body parts like the enemy does..