16th century mass grave discovered in Poland

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The remains of over 100 children, some with coins in their mouths, have been discovered in south-east Poland confirming local legends of a children's graveyard.

Katarzyna Oleszek, an archaeologist working at the site, said: “It's certainly a sign of their beliefs. The coins are called obols of the dead or Charon’s obol. It is an old, pre-Christian tradition. But it's been cultivated for a long time, even as late as the nineteenth century, it was practiced by Pope Pius IX.”

The find confirms archaeologists’ theories and the speculations of locals that children were buried in a cemetery in an area known as the Church Mountains. Apart from the coins no other items were found in the graves.

There were no buttons, nails or coffin handles, which Oleszek says suggests that the community that buried them was very poor. The area is now forested and there are no grave markers. Only a small chapel offers any sign of the former church.

Source: https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2020/06/16th-century-mass-grave-with-over-100.html

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Aww that’s sad