The Daily Populous Saturday May 11st, 2024 morning edition
Image from preview.redd.it and submitted by 9M-WhiskeyTangoFoxx

9M-WhiskeyTangoFoxx on May 10th, 2024 at 16:39 UTC »

The discovery of the skull of a soldier who fought in the Battle of Visby is a fascinating glimpse into the past. The skull was found still encased in chainmail, a stark reminder of the brutal realities of medieval warfare. This particular soldier was one of many who fell during the battle, their remains scattered across the battlefield. The archaeological findings from this site were extensive, with many skeletons found still in their chain mail and armor, some with weapons still lodged in their bones.

The skull itself bore the marks of a violent end. The bones above the left eye and on the left cheekbone were shattered, likely from a heavy pole weapon. The mouth and nose were split open, possibly by an axe. These injuries paint a vivid picture of the soldier’s final moments.

The discovery of the skull and other remains from the Battle of Visby has left a lasting archaeological legacy. It provides a unique insight into the nature of medieval combat and the lives of the individuals who fought and died in these conflicts. The preservation of the armor on the skull and other remains also offers valuable information about the types of protective gear used in battle during this period.

Agreeable_Baker3282 on May 10th, 2024 at 19:22 UTC »

Why are his teeth so damn good?

Nonions on May 10th, 2024 at 20:43 UTC »

The relics from the battle give us a really interesting insight into weapons and armour of the time, particularly low status things.

The battle was fought by forces of the Danish King against an army of peasant rebels, most of whom were using whatever gear they could get, including a lot of home-made things.

Now high status armour and arms, the really fancy stuff, that's the stuff you usually find in museums. People thought it looked cool and preserved it to put on display. The low status stuff which was worn by common soldiers or rebels was the cheap stuff, was just melted down or otherwise recycled because metal was really expensive.

But the battle of Visby happened to be fought in July, and it seems that nobody wanted to bother stripping all the rotting bodies, as they were dumped, fully armoured, into mass graves. Some of them still had coin purses on them, so obviously hadn't been searched.

Lindybeige video on the topic