Giant plague grave discovered in Nuremberg could be the largest mass burial ... trends now
Scientists may have uncovered what is the largest mass burial site in Europe.
The site in Nuremberg, Germany, contains the bodies of at least 1,000 people who died of the bubonic plague, which killed up to 60 per cent of Europe's population.
Described as a 'nationally significant' discovery, experts think the bodies were buried at the first half of 17th century following a ruthless wave of the disease.
The bubonic plague is spread by the bite of a flea that's been infected with a bacterium called Yersinia pestis.
Those afflicted died quickly and horribly following a bout of high fever, shivering, vomiting, headaches, delirium and 'suppurative buboes' (swellings).
Scientists may have uncovered what is the the largest mass burial site ever seen in Europe - in the city of Nuremberg, Germany
The site was found during excavations in a field ahead of the construction of a new retirement home
Nuremberg's Lord Mayor Marcus König said the discovery is 'of great significance far beyond the region'.
'The graves contain the mortal remains of children and old people, men and women; the plague did not stop at gender, age or social status,' he said.
'It goes without saying that this historically and archaeologically significant find must be handled sensitively and appropriately.'
Melanie Langbein, from Nuremberg’s department for heritage conservation, said eight plague pits have been identified, each containing several hundred bodies.
'Those people were not interred in a regular cemetery although we have designated plague cemeteries in Nuremberg,' Langbein told CNN.
'This means a large number of dead people who needed to be buried in a short time frame without regard to Christian burial practices.'
Several of the bones are physically damaged due to the bombs that fell in the area during the Second World War, Spiegel reports.
Others are green due to waste from a neighboring copper mill being disposed at the site, just as copper jewellery turns skin green.
Some bodies were in clothing or wrapped in cloth when they were buried but generally they were tightly squeezed into the burial space – reflective of the high death rate from the deadly disease.
The site was found during excavations in a field ahead of the construction of a new retirement home in Nuremberg
Bodies were generally tightly squeezed into the burial space - reflective of the high death rate from the deadly disease
Some skeletons are green due to waste from a neighboring copper mill being disposed at the site, just as copper jewellery turns skin green
The burials were unearthed during excavations in a field ahead of the construction of a new retirement home in Nuremberg.
Although 500 skeletons have been found, one expert thinks there could be as many as 2,000 there or even more.
'There was no indication to assume that there were burials on this field,' said Julian Decker, whose company In Terra Veritas is carrying out the excavation.
'I personally expect the number to be at 2,000 or even above, making it the biggest mass grave in Europe.'
