Boscombe Bowmen facts for kids
The Boscombe Bowmen is the name archaeologists gave to a group of early Bronze Age people. They were found buried together at Boscombe Down in Amesbury, near Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England.
Discovery of the Bowmen
The Boscombe Bowmen were discovered in 2003. Workers found them during road construction near the Boscombe Down airfield. This area is close to some houses in Amesbury that are connected to the air base.
Who Were the Boscombe Bowmen?
The grave held seven burials in total. There were three children, one teenager, and three adult men. Scientists studied their skulls and believe the men and the teenager were related. The oldest man was buried in a crouched (bent over) position. The bones of the others were scattered around him, with their skulls placed near his feet.
They are called the "Bowmen" because several flint arrowheads were found in the grave. Other items buried with them included a boar's tusk, a bone toggle (a small fastener), and flint tools. They also found eight Beaker pots, which is a very large number for one grave.
Archaeologists believe these burials are from around 2300 BCE. This means they lived around the same time as the famous Amesbury Archer, who was found nearby.
Where to See the Finds
You can see the items found with the Boscombe Bowmen at the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum. They are part of the new Wessex Gallery of Archaeology, which opened in 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Arqueros de Boscombe para niños
