Workers renovating a football field in Vienna’s Simmering district, Austria, uncovered a mass grave containing the remains of more than 150 people, in what archaeologists are calling an “extremely rare” Roman-era discovery.
The skeletal remains, first discovered in October, have now been confirmed to date back nearly 2,000 years to the 1st century, during the Roman Empire. Initial analysis revealed 129 individuals, and further excavation has raised the estimated total to over 150, all males between 20 and 30 years old.
Signs point to violent death in battle
Experts believe the men were Roman soldiers who died in a violent battle. The remains show clear signs of fatal injuries caused by weapons such as swords, spears, daggers, and arrow-like projectiles.
Based on the wounds, archaeologists concluded the soldiers were likely involved in a military operation that ended in failure.
“There are huge battlefields in Germany where weapons were found,” said Michaela Binder, who led the excavation. “But finding the dead, that is unique for the entire Roman history.”
Burial defies common Roman practice
According to Kristina Adler-Wölfl, head of city archaeology for the Vienna Museum, the rarity of the find is tied to Roman burial customs.
“As cremation burials were common in the European parts of the Roman Empire around 100 AD, body burials were an absolute exception,” Adler-Wölfl said. “Finds of Roman skeletons from this period are therefore extremely rare.”
Ongoing research to reveal more
Researchers are still in the early stages of analyzing the site and say many questions remain. Why these men were buried rather than cremated and what battle may have led to such a large loss of life are still unknown.
The Vienna Museum stated that research is still in its early stages, with further in-depth investigations planned to continue at the site. These investigations aim to provide greater insights into Roman military activity and everyday life during the 1st century.
The discovery provides a rare opportunity to examine Roman soldiers not just through artifacts but through their remains. This site gives a direct and human connection to a Roman military event. It’s a window into a moment of conflict that left no written records — only the silence of bones. The dig continues, with further studies expected to shed light on one of the most unique archaeological finds in recent Austrian history.