23 May 2011

Bronze age battle site found in Germany

6:34 am on 23 May 2011

Archaeologists in Germany say they've unearthed remains that could be evidence of a major Bronze Age battle more than 3000 years ago.

Details of the discovery, from the Tollense Valley in northern Germany, have been published in the journal Antiquity.

The BBC reports that archaeological excavations unearthed fractured skulls, wooden clubs and horse remains dating from around 1200 BC.

The researchers say injuries to the skulls suggest face-to-face combat in a battle perhaps fought between warring tribes.

They found remains of around 100 human bodies, of which eight had lesions to their bones. Most of the bodies, but not all, appeared to be young men.