Possible Evidence of 'Crucifixion' Found in a British Village Stuns Researchers

Researchers have possibly found evidence of crucifixion being conducted during ancient times in the British Isles. Examples of crucifixion have been hard to come by in the British Isles because the practice had been banned for citizens in AD212, Newsweek reported.

Researchers found a man buried in Fenstanton, a village in Cambridgeshire, who had a nail fitted within his heels. Experts believe that this is an indication that the individual was crucified. The discovery was made in 2021, and its findings have been published in British Archaeology.

The researchers were hired by a housing development company, who were evaluating the site for a project, Newsweek reported. The explorers found multiple graves at the place containing 48 individuals in total. Experts believe that the individuals came from the same neighborhood because all of them suffered from dental problems and bone conditions such as osteoarthritis.

All the individuals had been buried similarly except one, Newsweek reported. One man was buried surrounded by a dozen nails, which initially researchers did not think much of. But when the body was sent for analysis, they found that one of the nails went through his heels. That is when the team figured out that the man could have been crucified. This is the first known incident of crucifixion found in the British Isles. 

The man is only the fourth recorded case of crucifixion in the world, Newsweek reported. "It stunned us, slightly," David Ingham, project manager at Albion Archaeology, who was part of the dig shared. The man who was found with the nail in his heel has been estimated to be around 25-35 years of age at the time of his death.

Researchers do not reject the possibility that the nail could have gone through the heel during burial or other similar events, Newsweek reported. Hence, they want more research to be done regarding the topic.