Skeletons found in mass grave are ancient Roman soldiers, study finds

Ancient Roman Soldiers Uncovered in Croatian Mass Grave

A new study has revealed that seven skeletons found in a mass grave in Croatia are likely to be ancient Roman soldiers who lived 1,700 years ago. The discovery was made during excavations at the site of the Roman city of Mursa - modern-day Osijek - in Croatia's far east.

The male skeletons, aged between 36-50 years old, were found "completely preserved" in a pit that would have originally been a water-well. Researchers believe they were likely victims of a battle that took place in the area during the 'Crisis of the Third Century' in 260 CE.

According to DNA analysis, the men had a mix of ancestry and did not appear to be from the local area. The researchers also found that all the skeletons showed various healed and un-healed injuries, including blunt force trauma and puncture wounds caused by arrows or spear tips.

Their diets were mainly vegetarian, but some had also indulged in meat and seafood. The men's lungs suffered from a pulmonary disease during their final days, which suggests they may have been exposed to poor air quality or other environmental factors.

The discovery is significant because mass burials and graves were not common in the Roman Empire, and were mostly used in extreme situations such as mass casualty events. The fact that this particular pit was used for these purposes highlights the intense nature of life in ancient Mursa.

The study provides valuable insights into the lives of ordinary people during ancient times and sheds new light on the history of the Roman Empire's eastern provinces.

I mean, can you even imagine what it would've been like to be a soldier 1700 years ago? Living in Mursa, Croatia, fighting battles and trying to survive. And now we get to learn about them through these ancient bones . The fact that they had mixed ancestry and weren't from the area you'd think would be surprising, but it just goes to show how complex life must've been back then.

And oh man, their diets were so different from what we're used to today - mostly veggies, some meat and seafood, but also some stuff that's not good for us . And can you believe they had lungs problems? It just makes me think about how our air quality is still a thing in modern times.

The whole discovery is like a window into the past, showing us what life was like 1700 years ago. I mean, we get to learn about these guys' daily struggles and triumphs through science and stuff .

Can you believe they found 7 "complete" skeletons from 1700 years ago lol in a mass grave? It's wild to think those guys were victims of battle back then! Their diets were mostly veggie, but some had meat & seafood - I wonder if they even knew what pasta was . And poor lungs, sounds like they were stuck in ancient air pollution . The fact that this pit was used for mass burials is crazy , it's like ancient Mursa was a war zone all the time

OMG, can you believe it? Ancient Romans just chillin' in Croatia like 1700 yrs ago . It's wild to think about these guys livin' their best lives, fightin' wars, gettin' injured, and dyin' from bad air quality . I mean, it's not all gladiatorial contests and togas, right? These soldiers were just regular dudes tryin' to survive. And to think they got buried in a water-well thingy... talk about a crappy fate . Anyway, this study is like, super important for understanding life back then, especially the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. It's cool that we get to learn more about these ancient folk and their daily struggles .

This is so cool! I mean, can you even imagine being an ancient soldier, just chillin' in Croatia 1,700 years ago? The fact that they were all found together in this mass grave is like, super interesting. It's not often we get to see stuff like this come back to life (no pun intended). I wonder what their daily lives were like - did they just hang out in Mursa and fight battles or was there more to it? Did they have a favorite food spot?

I gotta say, I'm totally surprised they think it's 100% Roman soldiers just 'cause they had some injuries & were in a mass grave lol ‍ The fact that their diets included veggies & seafood is pretty on point tho , but not necessarily proof of being Roman. What if those guys were actually mercenaries or something? We can't assume they're from ancient Rome just 'cause of the DNA analysis . And have you seen the state of the air quality in Croatia 1700 yrs ago? Those guys probably had some serious respiratory issues , but that doesn't mean they were Roman soldiers... might've been just unlucky with their lung health .

I'm low-key fascinated by this discovery! Like, who knew that ancient Roman soldiers could be found in Croatia? The idea that they were victims of a battle 1700 years ago is wild. And can you even imagine what it would've been like to live during the Crisis of the Third Century?

I love how they found out their diets were mostly veggie, but some had meat and seafood too - I'm all about that ancient foodie life . But seriously, the fact that they had pulmonary disease at the end is a good reminder that our ancestors weren't immune to health problems either.

This discovery is giving me major history nerd vibes . It's like we're getting a glimpse into their lives and struggles, which is totally mind-blowing. Can you imagine what other secrets this mass grave might hold?

I'm fascinated by this discovery. It's crazy to think that 1,700 years ago, these guys were living their lives in Mursa - fighting battles, eating veggie meals , and then meeting their demise in a tragic event. The fact that they had all sorts of injuries suggests that war was super intense back then. I can only imagine how scary it must have been to be in the middle of that chaos.

It's also really interesting to see how much we can learn from these ancient graves. It's like, oh yeah, people in the past were just as complicated and multi-faceted as we are today . They had their own struggles with health issues, diet, and environment - it's not so different from us now.

I wish I could've met some of these guys for a cuppa ️ and heard their stories firsthand! Can you imagine the conversations they'd have had? "So, how was your day?" "Oh, just got back from battle... again ".

omg u guys i cant even handle how cool this is so like these skeletons were found 1700 yrs ago in croatia and now scientists are all "oh wait a minute theyre not from around here" and got DNA tests and stuff and its like whoa what happened to them?? the fact that they had injuries and illnesses and lived on veggies but also had some meat and seafood lol their lungs were giving out tho its like ancient croatia was really something else

I just can't believe it , a mass grave with 7 ancient Roman soldiers uncovered in Croatia... 1,700 years ago! The fact that their diets were mainly vegetarian but some had meat and seafood is pretty interesting. I mean, who knew vegans existed back then? It's also crazy to think about how poor air quality affected their lungs, it just goes to show how vulnerable humans are to environmental factors. And the injuries they sustained, blunt force trauma and arrow puncture wounds... it's like something out of a movie! The study is super valuable in providing insight into daily life during ancient Roman times, especially for the eastern provinces. It's amazing what you can learn from history, isn't it?

idk why they didnt find any metal or coins in the grave lol 1,700 yrs ago and no one has any idea what was goin on in those soldiers minds but seriously these findings r pretty wild considering how little we know about roman soldiers and how they lived their lives

I mean, can you believe it? Ancient Roman soldiers, just chillin' in a mass grave 1,700 years ago . I'm trying to imagine what their life was like, you know? Living in this city Mursa, fighting wars, and then... boom! They end up as part of a massive burial site. It's crazy how much we can learn from these discoveries.

I guess it's cool that we're getting more info about ancient Roman soldiers than just your average history textbook. I mean, who doesn't love reading about ancient warriors with arrow wounds and stuff? But seriously, it's amazing how scientists are able to figure out so much about their lives based on things like DNA analysis and injury patterns.

I'm curious, what was life really like in Mursa back then? Were the people super friendly or did they just have a bunch of wars all the time? I feel like we're only scratching the surface of this whole thing, but it's definitely making me want to learn more about ancient Roman history.

can you imagine being one of those soldiers fighting for an empire that's like 1700 years ago? they had some pretty rough lives - brutal battles, poor air quality... and to top it off, their lungs were all messed up from whatever environmental factors they were exposed to . but at the same time, they ate veggies and seafood, which is def a win in my book . what's wild is that we're still learning about these guys like 1700 years later... it's crazy how much history is still hidden beneath our feet . anyway, I think this discovery is super fascinating - gives me so much to think about when I'm scrolling through ancient history pics

This is wild ! I mean, can you even imagine being a soldier 1700 years ago? Like, fighting in battles for empires that don't even exist anymore . And these guys were just chillin' in this mass grave with all these injuries... it's like they're giving us a glimpse into what life was really like back then .

I love how they found out they had mixed ancestry too - it's crazy to think about how different people lived and died thousands of years ago . And their diets? Vegetarian, but also some meat and seafood... sounds like a pretty chill ancient life .

The whole situation is actually kinda heartbreaking too... poor air quality and stuff affecting their lungs... it's just another reminder that we're all connected through time . Anyway, I'm low-key fascinated by this whole thing

Like what?! 1,700 years old? They were literally just like us, living their lives, eating veggies and getting hurt in battles But what's crazy is that they had a mix of ancestry, so maybe they weren't from around there... I don't know if it's cool or creepy that their lungs got all messed up from bad air quality. It's wild to think about how much pollution was going on back then and how it could've affected people's health.

And can you imagine finding a mass grave with guys who had arrow wounds? Like, what happened?! Did they fight against the Romans or something? The fact that they were mostly vegetarian but still ate meat is also interesting. I wonder if some of them were just really adventurous eaters . But for real though, this study is like, totally blowing my mind!

This is crazy I mean, 1,700 years ago?! It's like something out of a movie or Game of Thrones. Ancient Roman soldiers just lying there in mass graves? What were they even fighting for back then? And what was this "Crisis of the Third Century" thing all about? Sounds like some ancient drama

And can you believe these guys had mixed ancestry? Like, their moms might've been Illyrian and their dads were Roman or something. Fascinating stuff! I'm also kinda surprised they didn't have more advanced medical care for those injuries... like, did they not have doctors or was it just "oh well, you're gonna die from that arrow wound"

I love how the researchers found out they had this pulmonary disease too. Poor guys were probably just stuck in ancient cities with super bad air quality . And their diets? Vegetarian and meat-and-seafood swaps. I wonder what kind of restaurants they'd have had back then... would've been more like "Hey, want to try some boiled rabbit?"

Anyway, this whole discovery is just wild. Ancient Roman soldiers in Croatia – who knew, right?

lol what a cool discovery ! i mean, can you even imagine being buried with an arrow stuck in your leg for who knows how long? it's wild to think that these guys were just living their lives, fighting battles and eating veggie burgers (veggie meat was prob the norm back then lol), when suddenly... BOOM! they're in a mass grave, victims of war. and now we get to learn all about their diets and health issues it's like we're getting a glimpse into their daily lives, 1700 years ago . i wonder if any of these guys had pets? did they even have electricity back then?