Mass grave for 12,000 people discovered underground in the city of Erfurt

An extraordinary archaeological discovery was made during pre-construction drilling in the Roter Berg district of the city of Erfurt. Deep excavations revealed that the ground contained an artificial structure measuring 15x10 meters and 3.5 meters in depth. The discovery of numerous human bones during initial examinations has caused great excitement among experts.

Radiocarbon analyses conducted in this area showed that the bones found date back to the mid-14th century, the period when the Black Death epidemic was at its peak in Europe. History books recounted that in 1350, the city of Erfurt, unable to keep up with the speed of the epidemic, collectively buried approximately 12,000 of its residents in massive pits opened outside the city gates. However, the exact location of these graves had not been determined until today.

Scientific studies led by the University of Leipzig indicate that the exact location of one of the legendary plague graves has been discovered. Michael Hein, who is leading the study, stated, "Our results show that we have clearly identified one of the plague graves in Erfurt mentioned in the chronicles."

The choice of the area is not a coincidence. According to the Miasma Theory, the prevailing belief of the Middle Ages, it was thought that diseases spread through bad and humid air. For this reason, it was preferred to open the graves at a controllable point right on the edge of the river valley. Climate historian Martin Bauch, who made a statement on the subject, noted that it was believed at the time that burying the dead in damp soil would increase the risk of the plague spreading by "evaporating."

A NEW ERA ADVANCING WITH SCIENTIFIC ANALYSES

Following the archaeological findings, eyes have turned to the DNA analyses to be conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. The research team will search for genetic traces of the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis in the remains removed from the grave. With the information to be obtained, it is aimed to gain more knowledge about the identities of the individuals who lost their lives during the epidemic, their health conditions, and the evolution of the plague.

Scientists state that more comprehensive excavations will be carried out in the region to reach a definitive conclusion. All findings and analyses could lift the veil on new secrets about the deadliest epidemic in European history.

With this finding, how mass burials took place during the Black Death in European history and how the people of that period reacted to the epidemic are being revealed scientifically for the first time with such clarity.

News Source: 12punto