Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of approximately 150 Roman soldiers during renovation work on a football pitch in Vienna.
The discovery, made by experts from the Vienna Museum in Austria, has been described as extremely rare in Roman military history.
The skeletal remains date back to the 1st century AD, a period when cremation was the standard practice for disposing of the dead.
Experts believe the soldiers, all young men, died in battle, making this find uniquely significant for understanding Roman military operations.
The skeletal remains date back to the 1st century AD, a period when cremation was the standard practice for disposing of the dead.
Reiner Riedler, Wien Museum
The remains were found in the Simmering area of Vienna during construction work to renovate a football pitch in a residential and industrial district.
The initial discovery was made in October last year, with 129 bodies initially confirmed at the site.
Further excavation work subsequently revealed additional remains, bringing the total to around 150 skeletons.
Analysis has confirmed that the remains date back to the 1st century Roman Empire, providing a rare glimpse into this historical period.
The rarity of this discovery was highlighted by Kristina Adler-Wölfl, Head of City Archaeology at the Vienna Museum.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:"As cremation burials were common in the European parts of the Roman Empire around 100 AD, body burials were an absolute exception, " she explained.
"Finds of Roman skeletons from this period are therefore extremely rare."
The preservation of complete skeletons rather than cremated remains offers archaeologists an unprecedented opportunity to study Roman soldiers from this era.
This exceptional find challenges the typical archaeological record for 1st century Roman military personnel.
Forensic analysis revealed that the soldiers were all males aged between 20 and 30 years old.
Evidence suggests they died violently in battle, with most injuries caused by swords, spears, daggers and projectile bolts.
Forensic analysis revealed that the soldiers were all males aged between 20 and 30 years old.
Reiner Riedler, Wien Museum
The pattern of wounds indicates they were part of a military operation that ended catastrophically.
Archaeologists concluded that the site represents the aftermath of a significant military disaster for Roman forces.
The preservation of battle wounds on the skeletons provides valuable insights into Roman combat techniques and weaponry of the period.
Michaela Binder, who led the archaeological dig, emphasised the unprecedented nature of the discovery.
"Within the context of Roman acts of war, there are no comparable finds of fighters. There are huge battlefields in Germany where weapons were found. But finding the dead, that is unique for the entire Roman history," she said.
The Vienna discovery provides archaeologists with a rare opportunity to study the actual casualties of Roman warfare rather than just their equipment or battle sites.
Experts continue to analyse the remains to better understand this catastrophic military event.
