As of: February 20, 2024, 8:10 p.m
By: Felix Herz
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The remains of numerous skeletons were found at a construction site in Nuremberg.
It is probably one of the largest plague graves in Germany.
Nuremberg – In Nuremberg, experts are currently uncovering the bones of hundreds of plague victims.
City archaeologist Melanie Langbein describes the site as the largest plague cemetery in Germany and possibly even Europe.
According to Langbein, the high scientific value of the excavation could provide important insights into the development of the plague.
A collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig is already being planned.
Eight mass graves on the site: 800 deaths documented so far
Experts estimate that there are around eight mass graves on the site.
An excavation company is currently investigating the third mass grave.
So far, around 800 deaths have been documented, as excavation director Florian Melzer explained.
However, according to projections, well over a thousand dead people could be buried there.
More than 1,000 human skeletons were found at a Nuremberg construction site.
It is probably one of the largest plague graves in Germany.
© NEWS5 / Osswald
The deceased probably died in the first half of the 17th century, according to Langbein.
In 1632/33 there was a large wave of plague in Nuremberg with more than 15,000 deaths.
The first indications of the graves were found during exploration work in August last year.
“We were also surprised that it reached these dimensions,” said Langbein.
The construction of a nursing home and apartments for seniors is planned on the approximately 5,900 square meter site.
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Dead bodies lie in layers on top of each other - complicated excavation
According to the experts, the archaeological excavations are complex.
The bones are very fragile, as Melzer reported.
In addition, the dead lie in many layers on top of each other in the graves.
Some of the skeletons are damaged because a bomb hit the property during World War II.
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Despite the damage, the bodies are overall well preserved, says Langbein.
The deceased include children, the elderly, women and men - a cross-section of the population at the time.
In some cases there are still remains of clothing such as buttons, eyelets and hooks.
According to Melzer, some of the dead were buried in shrouds, others appear to have been thrown in.
Langbein emphasizes that the experts still have a lot of research work to do.
There is evidence that there are also dead bodies from a cholera epidemic in the 19th century on the site.
“Under certain circumstances we not only have plague, but plague and cholera.”
(fhz)
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