London - Physical evidence that children were used as soldiers in Britain's mid-17th century civil wars has been discovered.
Investigations in Durham identified the remains of up to 28 skeletons as Scottish prisoners of war including a dozen teenage soldiers, five of whom were under 16.
They were taken prisoner after English parliamentarian forces defeated the pro-Charles II Scottish Presbyterian army at the Battle of Dunbar on 3 September 1650.
Scientific and other investigations by Durham University show that they almost certainly died of malnutrition, dysentery and other diseases.
One 13- to 15-year-old boy who may have been suffering from scurvy had infections in his leg and foot bones. A 14- to 15-year-old appears to have been suffering from malnutrition for several years - and had severe tooth decay and a leg infection. A 12- to 16-year-old had leg and foot infections.
The Independent