The remains of Scottish soldiers-of-fortune killed in battle in Germany almost 400 years ago have been found in a mass grave near Berlin.

The men, all aged between 20 and 35, fell in action at the Battle of Wittstock in 1636 at the height of the 30 Years War.

It began as a civil conflict and gradually drew in most of the major European powers. More people died than in the First World War, many of them from the famine and disease which followed after opposing armies laid waste to the countryside across central Europe.

Archaeologists excavating the site near Berlin have found the bones of 130 soldiers and have begun tracing their origins through examination of their teeth.

From initial research, based on the levels of strontium in the tooth enamel, they can pinpoint the geographic origins of the remains. The grave holds the bones of Scots, Swedes and men from the Danube Basin.

Franz Schopper, director of the Brandenburg Monument Preservation Office, said: "The strontium content of the teeth provides a unique geographic marker, indicating where each of these soldiers originates. It is linked to known levels in the drinking water in areas across Europe in the 17th century.

"We believe there are Scots among them. Many Scots fought for both sides during the war, either as mercenaries or from religious conviction."

All of the skeletons show signs of extreme trauma, with skulls smashed by musket balls and bones showing signs of sword cuts and shrapnel damage.

At least three also showed signs of advanced syphilis. There was no cure for venereal disease in the 1600s and it was widespread among soldiers.

Anje Grothe, the archaeologist heading the search at the site, said: "Our team is sifting through the grave and we are already gaining insights not only into the savagery of the fighting but also into the general health of the men who took part.

"We are checking the bones for signs of disease and wear and tear which will allow us to build a detailed picture of day-to-day life in the armies of the time."

The war, fought between a Swedish-led Protestant alliance and a Catholic confederation of the Holy Roman Empire and Saxony, left what is now Germany devastated and the male population of the region almost halved.

Historians say up to 50,000 Scots fought in the conflict between 1618 and 1648, earning a reputation for military professionalism.

The Swedish forces alone sacked and burned 1500 towns, 18,000 villages, and 2000 castles - more than a third of the populated centres in the Germany of the time.

The remains found at Wittstock were from the 16,000-strong Swedish army which won a costly and narrow victory against 22,000 Catholic troops.

More than 7000 of the 38,000 men who fought that day are known to have been killed outright or died of their wounds.

Two of the most outstanding Swedish commanders of the time were Scots.

Alexander Leslie was knighted by the Swedish monarch and rose to become a field marshal. James King, from Orkney, commanded the Swedish left-wing at Wittstock and was largely responsible, along with Leslie, for the counter-attack which won the battle.