Skeletons in mass grave are ancient Roman soldiers, study finds

Scientists say seven skeletons discovered in a mass grave in Croatia were likely Roman soldiers who lived 1,700 years ago.

The male skeletons, all with various injuries, were found “fully preserved” during excavations in 2011 at the site of the Roman town of Mursa – now Osijek – in far eastern Croatia, according to a new research paper.

Mursa was conquered by the Romans in the first century BC and became a large settlement which was also an important center of trade and crafts.

Today, researchers from several European archaeological institutions have been able to determine not only when these men lived, but also how they may have died.

According to the newspaper, the men in the grave were aged 36 to 50, taller than average and were “robust” individuals. Their diet was primarily vegetarian, but some also indulged in some meat and seafood.

All had various healed and unhealed injuries, including those caused by blunt force trauma, and there were puncture wounds on two of their torsos, which scientists believe were likely caused by arrows or spearheads.

All the men suffered from some sort of “lung disease.” [affecting the lungs] illness during the last days of their life.

DNA analysis also revealed that the men had diverse ancestry and none appeared to be from the area.

The journal notes that the Roman Empire was a particularly violent time and that Mursa was involved in several conflicts.

Researchers believe these men were likely victims of the “Crisis of the Third Century”, most likely the Battle of Mursa of 260 CE, when there were “many battles between different claimants to the throne”.

The document states that the pit in which the skeletons were discovered is believed to have originally been a water well, several of which have been discovered in the area.

He notes that common burials and mass graves were “not a usual way of burying the dead in the Roman Empire” and were mainly used in extreme situations and mass casualty events.

Given the different angles of the skeletons’ positions, the researchers say they were “most likely thrown” into the well before being covered with earth.

Mursa has been of archaeological importance for years, with various sites of ancient civilizations discovered in the area.