1,200-year-old burial in Latvia holds people who died of 'sharp force' injuries, possibly from a Viking raid

Six individuals were buried together in Latvia over 1,200 years ago, possibly victims of a Viking raid, according to a new study. The deceased included four men, a boy, and a girl, all sharing familial connections - the boy being the son of one of the men, while the other man was a third-degree relative, possibly a first cousin or great uncle.

Genetic analysis revealed that all the deceased belonged to the Indigenous Baltic ancestry, while burial customs and grave goods suggest respect for the dead. The findings indicate the individuals may have perished during a violent event, with three men sustaining sharp force injuries, possibly from an ax or sword. However, the other three individuals' causes of death remain uncertain.

One theory posits a Viking raid as the cause, given the timing and archaeological evidence from similar graves.