Long ago on an island called Bornholm in Denmark, people buried carved stones in a ditch. These ‘sun stones’ were sacrificed to bring back the Sun after a huge volcano eruption blocked it out. The Sun was very important to the people for farming and harvests, so they were scared when it disappeared. The sun stones were found at a site called Vasagård, where people worshipped the Sun. The stones were carved with patterns like Sun rays and were buried with ritual items.
Researchers found evidence of the volcanic eruption in ice cores and tree rings from around 2900 BCE. The eruption caused low sunlight and cold conditions, leading to crop failure. After sacrificing the stones, the site at Vasagård changed, and the people’s way of life shifted due to other challenges like the plague and mass migration.
This study helps us understand how ancient people coped with natural disasters and made changes to their lives in response. The research was published in a journal called Antiquity.
Vocabulary List:
- Eruption /ɪˈrʌpʃən/ (noun): The act of a volcano erupting which involves the expulsion of lava ash and gases.
- Sacrificed /ˈsækrəˌfaɪst/ (verb): To give up something valuable for the sake of something else considered more important.
- Carved /kɑrvd/ (verb): To shape or design something by cutting into a material such as stone or wood.
- Evidence /ˈɛvɪdəns/ (noun): The available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
- Ritual /ˈrɪtʃuəl/ (noun): A religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.
- Migration /maɪˈɡreɪʃən/ (noun): Movement from one region or habitat to another typically for better living conditions or resources.
