Ancient stone formations have led to a heartbreaking discovery that's baffled experts

A unique ancient burial ground has been unearthed in Norway, leaving officials scratching their heads regarding the ‘very curious’ yet heartbreaking discovery.

Back in 2023, a team of archaeologists from Norway's Museum of Cultural History traveled to Southern Norway where they discovered stones set into a particular formation.

It’s said that the meticulously placed stones originated from the Bronze and Iron Ages and that each one measured up to around six feet wide.

Archaeologists were shocked with what they found under the stones. (Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo)

While the stones themselves are pretty fascinating, it’s what is underneath that’s really got scientists confused.

Upon further inspection, the experts learned that the 40+ stones were placed on top of pottery shards and burned bones.

And new analysis of the site - situated around 80 kilometres south of Oslo - has shown that almost all of these bones belonged to children aged three to six years old.

It’s thought that these ancient infants died between 800 and 200 B.C. and archaeologists claim high child mortality rates at the time could have played a part in the site’s creation.

"They've lain here as a secret until we found them," museum archaeologist Guro Fossum explained to Science Norway.

"The dating shows that the burial site was used over a long period, so they couldn't all have died in the same natural disaster or outbreak of disease or epidemic.”

Burnt bones and pottery shards were recovered from the graves. (Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo)

According to a statement by the museum, a concentration of ancient graves containing the remains of children is extremely unique in Europe.

This is even though in the Nordic Bronze and Iron Ages, a flat layer of stones would be laid out in a spiral pattern over cremation sites.

“The graves are very close together," Fossum lamented further. "They must have been in an open landscape, with thoroughfares nearby, so everyone would have known about them.

“Cooking pits and fireplaces around the site suggest that gatherings and ceremonies were held in connection with burials."

Following the graveyard’s discovery, it’s since been revealed that researchers will continue to analyze artefacts found on site.

Their plan? To get a serious handle on why this ‘secret’ burial spot exists and who built it ‘with so much care’.

"Analyses of the pottery fragments can tell us a lot," Fossum continued.

"It doesn't appear that all the vessels were containers for burnt bones; some were placed between the graves, and we are very curious about what was inside them."

Experts plan to continue their research into the discovered objects. (Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo)

Fossum and her team are determined to discover ‘who put in so much effort’ after further tests revealed each gravestone had been sourced from a different location and had been set in a particular pattern.

The burial site near Fredrikstad is a heartbreaking but fascinating tribute to the dead.

If you find yourself in Oslo this summer, then you can head to The Historical Museum to see a reconstructed stone grave.

According to the institution’s site, the exhibit works to: “Provides insights into the delicate and sometimes emotional work process of the archaeologists who carried out the excavations.”

Visitors can gain insight into the significance of the 2023 find through photographs and video material from June 26 to September 29.