Seven skeletons found in a mass grave in Croatia were likely those of Roman soldiers who lived 1,700 years ago, scientists say.
Male skeletons, all with various injuries, were found “fully preserved” during excavations in 2011 at the site of the Roman city of Mrsa – modern-day Osijek – in far-eastern Croatia, a new research paper says.
Mersa was conquered by the Romans in the 1st century BC and it became a large settlement and was also an important center of trade and crafts.
Now, researchers from several European archaeological institutions have been able to determine not only when the men lived, but also how they died.
According to the paperThe men in the grave were between 36 and 50 years old, taller than average, and were “strong” individuals. Their diets were mainly vegetarian, but some also indulged in a little meat and seafood.
They all showed various healed and non-healed 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 spear points.
All of the men had some sort of “lung.” [affecting the lungs] illness in the last days of their lives.
DNA analysis also revealed that the men had a mix of ancestry, and none of them appeared to be from the local area.
The newspaper noted that the Roman Empire was a particularly violent era and that Marsa was involved in several conflicts.
Researchers believe that the men were most likely victims “Crisis of the Third Century”most likely the Battle of Marsa from 260 AD, when there were “numerous battles fought between various claimants to the throne.”
The paper notes that the pit in which the skeletons were found was originally a water well, several of which have been discovered in the area.
She notes that mass burials and mass graves “were not a usual way of burying the dead in the Roman Empire,” and were mostly used in extreme situations and mass casualty events.
Given the different angles at which the skeletons now lie, researchers say they were “most likely thrown” into the well before being covered with soil.
Marsa has been of archaeological importance for years, as many sites of ancient civilizations have been discovered in the area.