Archaeologists Unearth Largest Mass Grave of Black Death Victims in Europe, Discover 1,000 Skeletons in Germany

A team of archaeologists in Germany has made a shocking discovery while excavating a site for a new apartment complex. The experts unearthed the remains of a fortification dating back to 1634 A.D., but what truly stunned them were the eight mass graves containing over a thousand skeletons of Black Death victims. This finding could potentially be the largest mass grave ever excavated in Europe.

The Gruesome Unearthing

The archaeologists found the mass graves in the northern half of the site. These burials can be categorized into two groups, with the first group dating to before the fortification, around 1634, and the second group appearing to be slightly more recent. The bodies in these graves were densely packed, and the team has only fully excavated one of the graves, with two others being partially excavated.

The bodies in the graves were found in sitting positions and lying on their sides, with babies and infants buried between adult remains. Despite being buried centuries ago, the remains were in relatively good condition, allowing for detailed analysis. Anthropologist Florian Melzer expressed that the bones can provide valuable information on various aspects such as prevalence of different diseases, genetic mutations, age, and general health of the individuals from that era.

The Mystery Behind the Green Bones

A surprising revelation was made regarding the color of the bones – they were tinted green due to the construction of metal processing factories built atop the graves. The team excavated around 500 skeletons from the three burials, with expectations of uncovering up to 1,000 to 1,500 bodies in total.

Furthermore, the team encountered challenges as they believe that bodies were removed from one of the graves, while another was damaged during a bomb explosion in 1945. These obstacles have complicated the excavation process, making it a unique and complex project.

Historical Context and Significance

The older group of burials is estimated to date between 1622 and 1634, corresponding to a Black Plague epidemic, a reoccurring epidemic in Europe between the mid-14th and 19th centuries. In Nuremberg, where the site is located, there were major outbreaks in 1553, 1563, and 1634, leading to the use of mass graves as an emergency burial procedure due to the overwhelming number of bodies from the plague.

This discovery of the mass graves in Germany is considered the largest of its kind in the country, and possibly in all of Europe, adding to the historical significance of the finding.

A Challenging yet Thrilling Experience

Julian Decker, the head of the excavation and CEO of In Terra Veritas, described the project as a challenging but thrilling experience, emphasizing the uniqueness and importance of the site. The team is continuing its work to unravel the specific ages of the burials and to further understand the historical context and implications of this gruesome discovery.