Archaeologists in Nuremberg, Germany, have unearthed what is believed to be Europe’s largest mass grave, with nearly 1,000 human skeletons discovered.
As reported by the BBC, the shocking finding was made during an archaeological examination preceding the construction of new housing developments in the area.
The excavation unveiled eight plague pits, estimated to contain over 1,500 bodies potentially. These individuals were interred outside of conventional burial grounds, suggesting a hurried burial process due to an epidemic, possibly plague, that swept through Nuremberg, according to Melanie Langbein from the Nuremberg Department of Heritage Preservation.
Determining the exact period of these burials presents a challenge, given that Nuremberg was hit by plagues nearly every decade since the 14th century. However, radiocarbon dating has dated one of the mass graves to the 1400s and early 1600s. Artefacts found at the site and historical documents detailing the 1634 plague outbreak suggest these remains could be linked to the epidemic of 1632-1633.
Julian Decker, leading the excavation, speculated that the total count of the deceased might surpass 2,000, potentially marking it as the largest known grave site in Europe. Langbein noted that the Thirty Years’ War exacerbated the 1632-1633 epidemic, leading to dire conditions for the city’s populace.
This discovery provides a unique insight into a specific segment of Nuremberg’s population during that era, allowing researchers to delve into the time’s demographic characteristics and health conditions.
