Archaeologists uncover mass grave of warriors from the Roman Empire in Vienna
- A mass grave dating to the 1st-century Roman Empire was discovered during renovations in Vienna.
- The burial site contained the remains of at least 129 individuals, likely warriors from a significant battle.
- This find represents the first known evidence of fighting in the region and highlights the early history of what would become the city of Vienna.
In October 2023, during renovations of a soccer field in the Simmering neighborhood of Vienna, Austria, construction crews made a significant archaeological discovery. They unearthed a mass grave dating back to the 1st-century Roman Empire, containing the remains of what is likely a group of warriors from a battle involving Germanic tribes. Experts from the Vienna Museum later gave a public presentation of this extraordinary find, highlighting the significance of the grave as evidence of the first-ever recorded fighting in the region. The grave site revealed a total of 129 confirmed skeletons, although the excavation teams believe the number of victims may exceed 150, marking this as an unprecedented find in Central Europe. Unlike typical Roman burial practices where soldiers were cremated until the 3rd century, the hasty and disorganized nature of the burial at this site indicates the swift disposal of casualties following a deadly conflict. Analysis of the remains showed that every skeleton bore signs of injuries, ruling out execution and confirming that these individuals died as a result of battle. The skeletal remains were predominantly male, most aged between 20 and 30 years old, and generally showed signs of good dental health. Carbon-14 dating placed the burial between 80 and 130 A.D., which was corroborated by the discovery of artifacts such as armor, helmet cheek protectors, and nails used in Roman military footwear. Notably, the presence of a rusty dagger—specifically dated to a period between the middle of the 1st century and the early 2nd century—added further context to the timing and nature of the conflict. Although only one individual has been confirmed as a Roman warrior, ongoing research aims to perform DNA and strontium isotope analysis to better understand the identities of the fighters and their affiliations in the battle. The current hypothesis posits that the findings could be linked to the Danube campaigns led by Emperor Domitian from 86 to 96 A.D., which may have involved a significant clash with Germanic tribes. This discovery also sheds light on the early stages of the settlement that would develop into modern-day Vienna, providing valuable insights into the region’s historical narrative.