Estimated death from epidemic disease that occurred in 1632-1633
A mass grave containing about 1,000 bodies was discovered in the center of downtown Nuremberg, Germany.
According to a CNN report on the 6th (local time), Nuremberg’s Department of Cultural Heritage Preservation announced that it had discovered a pile of human remains during an archaeological investigation before the construction of a residential building in the city center.
An official from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage Preservation explained to CNN, “We identified eight mass graves, and each grave contained hundreds of remains.” It is estimated that more than 1,500 remains are buried, including those whose remains have not been excavated.
He added, “The bodies discovered were not buried in a regular cemetery in Nuremberg,” adding, “The failure to follow Christian burial customs means that many deaths had to be buried in a short period of time.”
In Nuremberg, the Black Death occurred every 10 years starting in the 14th century. Archaeologists used radiocarbon dating to date the mass graves to the late 1400s to early 1600s.
Documents were also found showing that more than 15,000 residents died from an epidemic between 1632 and 1633. According to this document, written in 1634, about 2,000 people were buried near the now-discovered mass grave.
Therefore, the researchers estimated that the people buried in the mass graves probably died due to an epidemic that was prevalent between 1632 and 1633.
According to an official from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage Preservation, Nuremberg suffered serious damage from infectious diseases due to the ’30 Years’ War’ at the time. Nuremberg was surrounded by several armies, and the living conditions for its residents were even harsher.
The Thirty Years’ War was a religious war between Protestants and Catholics that spread throughout Europe, starting from the Holy Roman Empire (currently Germany). This war ended with Protestant victory with the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.
The researchers said, “We were able to investigate the population characteristics of the society at the time,” and added, “Once the excavation is completed, we plan to analyze the remains and conduct research on parasites in the soil.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.