The remains of more than 1,000 people were found stuffed inside a pit in southern Germany, with 500 more skeletons still likely buried in the mass grave. Excavators discovered at least eight graves at the Nuremberg site, which was likely used for burying victims of the plague that broke out in 1632.
Plague outbreaks were common in the German city, with scientists saying that the health crisis hit every 10 years from the 14th century onwards.
Nuremberg’s department for heritage conservation explained that the remains were found during an archaeological survey prior to the construction of new residential buildings.
The mass graves mean “a large number of dead people who needed to be buried in a short time frame without regard to Christian burial practices,” Melanie Langbein of the department said.
A representative of the excavation company Terra Veritas said that the number of remains may cross 2000. This would make it the largest mass grave in Europe, as per CNN.
Langbein said the plague that may have killed the people buried in the mass grave was made worse because of the Thirty Years War, a phase that saw intense fighting in Europe.
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