The dead
Although only a small part of the area of the ringfort has been excavated, as of spring 2018 the archaeologists have already found the remains of at least 26 male skeletons. It is estimated that the ringfort may contain the remains of between 150 and 250 people. The youngest individual to have been found is an infant of just over a month old, and the oldest is a man of around 65. DNA and isotope analyses are ongoing and will hopefully reveal whether those killed were native Ölanders. Several of the bones found show evidence of various injuries that suggest the victims met with brutal and fatal violence, inflicted using weapons such as swords and axes. So far, only male remains have been unearthed. Where were the women? Were they taken away, or killed and left somewhere else in the vicinity, perhaps outside the ringfort? This is a question the archaeologists hope to find the answer to in the future.
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