The gory sight of human bones protruding from graves have been discovered at a cemetery in Bytom, southern Poland. 

Marcin Nowak went to the local cemetery in Bytom to clean and decorate his aunt’s grave before Easter. Suddenly, he noticed human bones sticking out from a freshly dug grave. There were sections of spine, ribs and even the wood from a coffin scattered among the graves.

 “I was shocked. It’s a total lack of respect for human remains,” says Nowak. 

Nowak told grave diggers but they tried to belittle the issue. “We can’t help it. The ground is wet; bones do not decay and it is difficult to distinguish fragments of bones from stones and other bits and pieces in the ground. Besides, rain washes away skeletons from graves. We keep finding skulls and bones. That’s why dogs are not allowed on the premises,” grave diggers told Gazeta Wyborcza.

The Sanitary Inspectorate in Bytom is surprised by the gruesome news about human remains at the local cemetery. “No one told us about it. Loose bones should be buried within coffins,” says Jolanta Wasowska from the inspectorate.

“I’m also shocked and I will make sure that grave diggers bury the remains properly,” says Priest Dariusz Pietras, who takes care of the cemetery.  

Mr. Nowak is still haunted by what he discovered and has revised plans for his own funeral arrangements. “I try not to think about the fact that these could be my relatives’ bones and I doubt I will choose a traditional burial for myself,” says Nowak, thoughtfully. (mg/pg)