Latest news with #MichaelaBinder
Fox News
07-04-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Archaeologists uncover hundreds of bodies under soccer field in eerie find: 'Truly a battlefield'
Archaeologists recently made a colossal discovery: They found an ancient Roman mass grave, dating back to the first-century A.D., underneath a soccer field in Vienna. The necropolis was found by construction crews working in the Vienna neighborhood of Simmering last October. The discovery was unknown to the world until the Vienna Museum announced it on Apr. 2. The 129 bodies, which were likely a mix of Roman soldiers and Germanic tribesmen, were found in total. Dislocated bones were also found at the site, meaning that as many as 150 victims' remains were found, the Associated Press reported. The discovery, which dates back to between 80 and 130 A.D., is the largest of its kind in Central Europe. It is also the first-known mass grave of Roman soldiers and Germanic tribes in Vienna. What made the discovery particularly unusual was the fact that any Roman soldiers were found at all, the experts said. Soldiers were typically cremated until the third century, they said. "Within the context of Roman acts of war, there are no comparable finds of fighters," excavation leader said Michaela Binder, as the Vienna Museum shared. "There are huge battlefields in Germany where weapons were found." "But finding the dead — that is unique for the entire Roman history." The victims were all male, and their remains were haphazardly scattered around, implying that they were hastily dumped. Experts have also been able to identify head, pelvis and torso injuries from the bones. "They have various different battle wounds, which rules out execution. It is truly a battlefield," Vienna archaeologist Kristina Adler-Wölfl said, as the AP reported. "There are wounds from swords, lances; wounds from blunt trauma." Archaeologists used carbon-14 dating to determine the age of the bones while also consulting the artifacts, which included armor and helmet cheek protectors. "The most likely theory at the moment is that this is connected to the Danube campaigns of Emperor Domitian — that's 86 to 96 A.D.," Adler-Wölfl said. Though one victim has been confirmed as a Roman warrior so far, the examination of the bones will continue, the scientists said. The archaeologists hope to paint a fuller picture of the soldiers and which sides each of them fought on. The experts at the Vienna Museum shared a public presentation of the details last week.
The Guardian
03-04-2025
- The Guardian
Roman-era battlefield mass grave discovered under Vienna football pitch
As construction crews churned up dirt to renovate a football pitch in Vienna last October, they happened upon an unprecedented find: a heap of intertwined skeletal remains in a mass grave dating to the 1st-century Roman empire, most likely the bodies of warriors killed in a battle involving Germanic tribes. This week, after archaeological analysis, experts at the Vienna Museum gave a first public presentation of the grave – linked to 'a catastrophic event in a military context' and evidence of the first known fighting in that region. The bodies of 129 people have been confirmed at the site in the Vienna neighbourhood of Simmering. The excavation teams also found many dislocated bones and believe the total number of bodies could exceed 150 – a discovery they said would be unprecedented in Central Europe. Michaela Binder, who led the archaeological dig, said: '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.' Soldiers in the Roman empire were typically cremated until the 3rd century. The pit where the bodies were deposited suggests a hasty or disorganised dumping of corpses. Every skeleton examined showed signs of injury – to the head, torso and pelvis in particular. Kristina Adler-Wölfl, the head of the Vienna city archaeological department, said: 'They have various different battle wounds, which rules out execution. It is truly a battlefield. There are wounds from swords, lances; wounds from blunt trauma.' The dead are all male. Most were aged 20 to 30 years old and generally showed signs of good dental health. Carbon-14 analysis helped date the bones to between AD80 and AD130. That was cross-checked against artefacts found in the grave – armour, helmet cheek protectors and nails used in distinctive Roman military shoes known as caligae. One of the biggest clues was the presence of a dagger of a type in use specifically between the middle of the 1st century and the start of the second. So far only one victim has been confirmed as a Roman legionary. Archaeologists hope DNA and strontium isotope analysis will help further identify the fighters, and whose side they were on. Adler-Wölfl said: 'The most likely theory at the moment is that this is connected to the Danube campaigns of Emperor Domitian – that's 86 to 96 AD.' The archaeologists said they had also found signs of the founding of the settlement that would become Vienna.
The Independent
03-04-2025
- The Independent
Discovery of mass grave under football pitch changes what we know about the Roman Empire
Construction workers renovating a Vienna football field stumbled upon a grim piece of history: a mass grave containing the skeletal remains of what are believed to be warriors from the 1st-century Roman Empire. Unearthed last October, the site has yielded evidence of a brutal battle, likely involving Germanic tribes, marking the first known conflict in the region. Following extensive analysis, experts at the Vienna Museum revealed their findings on Wednesday, describing the discovery as a "catastrophic event in a military context." Located in the Simmering district of Vienna, the mass grave holds the intertwined remains of at least 129 individuals. The excavation team also uncovered numerous dislocated bones, suggesting the final death toll could exceed 150, a finding unprecedented in Central Europe for this period. 'Within the context of Roman acts of war, there are no comparable finds of fighters," said Michaela Binder, who led the archaeological dig. "There are huge battlefields in Germany where weapons were found. But finding the dead, that is unique for the entire Roman history.' Soldiers in the Roman Empire were typically cremated until the 3rd century. The pit where the bodies were deposited suggests a hasty or disorganized dumping of corpses. Every skeleton examined showed signs of injury — to the head, torso and pelvis in particular. 'They have various different battle wounds, which rules out execution. It is truly a battlefield," said Kristina Adler-Wölfl, head of Vienna city archaeological department. 'There are wounds from swords, lances; wounds from blunt trauma.' The victims were all male. Most were aged 20 to 30 years old and generally showed signs of good dental health. Carbon-14 analysis helped date the bones to between 80 and 130 A.D. That was cross-checked against known history of relics found in the grave – armor, helmet cheek protectors, the nails used in distinctive Roman military shoes known as caligae. The most indicative clue came from a rusty dagger of a type in use specifically between the middle of the 1st century and the start of the second. The research continues: Only one victim has been confirmed as a Roman warrior. Archaeologists hope DNA and strontium isotope analysis will help further identify the fighters, and whose side they were on. 'The most likely theory at the moment is that this is connected to the Danube campaigns of Emperor Domitian — that's 86 to 96 A.D.," Adler-Wölfl said. City archaeologists said the discovery also reveals the early signs of the founding of a settlement that would become the Austrian capital of today.
Boston Globe
02-04-2025
- Science
- Boston Globe
Vienna archaeologists reveal mass grave of fighters in Roman Empire-era battle
Advertisement 'Within the context of Roman acts of war, there are no comparable finds of fighters,' said Michaela Binder, who led the archaeological dig. 'There are huge battlefields in Germany where weapons were found. But finding the dead, that is unique for the entire Roman history.' Soldiers in the Roman Empire were typically cremated until the third century. The pit where the bodies were deposited suggests a hasty or disorganized dumping of corpses. Every skeleton examined showed signs of injury — to the head, torso, and pelvis in particular. 'They have various different battle wounds, which rules out execution. It is truly a battlefield,' said Kristina Adler-Wölfl, head of Vienna city archaeological department. 'There are wounds from swords, lances; wounds from blunt trauma.' The victims were all male. Most were aged 20 to 30 years old and generally showed signs of good dental health. Advertisement Carbon-14 analysis helped date the bones to between 80 and 130 AD. That was cross-checked against known history of relics found in the grave —armor, helmet cheek protectors, the nails used in distinctive Roman military shoes known as caligae. The most indicative clue came from a rusty dagger of a type in use specifically between the middle of the first century and the start of the second. The research continues: Only one victim has been confirmed as a Roman warrior. Archaeologists hope DNA and strontium isotope analysis will help further identify the fighters, and whose side they were on. 'The most likely theory at the moment is that this is connected to the Danube campaigns of Emperor Domitian — that's 86 to 96 AD,' Adler-Wölfl said. City archaeologists said the discovery also reveals the early signs of the founding of a settlement that would become the Austrian capital of today.
CBS News
02-04-2025
- CBS News
Vienna archaeologists discover skeletal remains in mass grave of fighters in Roman Empire-era battle
As construction crews churned up dirt to renovate a Vienna soccer field last October, they happened upon an unprecedented find: A heap of intertwined skeletal remains in a mass grave dating to the 1st-century Roman Empire, likely the bodies of warriors in a battle involving Germanic tribes. On Wednesday, after archaeological analysis, experts at the Vienna Museum gave a first public presentation of the grave — linked to "a catastrophic event in a military context" and evidence of the first known fighting ever in that region. The bodies of 129 people have been confirmed at the site in the Vienna neighborhood of Simmering. The excavation teams also found many dislocated bones and believe the total number of victims tops 150 — a discovery never seen before in Central Europe. "Within the context of Roman acts of war, there are no comparable finds of fighters," said Michaela Binder, who led the archaeological dig. "There are huge battlefields in Germany where weapons were found. But finding the dead, that is unique for the entire Roman history." Soldiers in the Roman Empire were typically cremated until the 3rd century. The pit where the bodies were deposited suggests a hasty or disorganized dumping of corpses. Every skeleton examined showed signs of injury — to the head, torso and pelvis in particular. "They have various different battle wounds, which rules out execution. It is truly a battlefield," said Kristina Adler-Wölfl, head of Vienna city archaeological department. "There are wounds from swords, lances; wounds from blunt trauma." The victims were all male. Most were aged 20 to 30 years old and generally showed signs of good dental health. Carbon-14 analysis helped date the bones to between 80 and 130 A.D. That was cross-checked against known history of relics found in the grave – armor, helmet cheek protectors, the nails used in distinctive Roman military shoes known as caligae. The most indicative clue came from a rusty dagger of a type in use specifically between the middle of the 1st century and the start of the second. The research continues: Only one victim has been confirmed as a Roman warrior. Archaeologists hope DNA and strontium isotope analysis will help further identify the fighters, and whose side they were on. "The most likely theory at the moment is that this is connected to the Danube campaigns of Emperor Domitian — that's 86 to 96 A.D.," Adler-Wölfl said. City archaeologists said the discovery also reveals the early signs of the founding of a settlement that would become the Austrian capital of today. In January, at least 56 bodies were discovered in unmarked mass graves in northern Mexico, not far from the border with the United States, local prosecutors said. The remains included some bodies, some complete skeletons and other partial remains, in addition to clothing and bullet casings.
