• Mass grave reveals gruesome 17th-century mystery
  • 23.09.2010

Golancz castle; photo - Włodzimierz Jacek Adamski

Archeologists have uncovered a mass grave dating back to mid 17th  century in the Golancz castle in northern Poland.

 

“It’s an extremely interesting but also a tragic discovery. We found a battle grave in the Lower Castle’s yard. So far we managed to uncover remains of seventeen people buried in three layers,” says Artur Rozanski from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, who, with Tomasz Olszacki from the University of Lodz, are supervising the excavation.

 

Archeologists suspect that up to 80 people could have been buried in the mass grave.

 

The skeletons probably belong to the Polish defenders of the castle. On 3 May 1656, Polish gentry together with peasants and clergy tried to defend the Golancz castle against the Swedish army but failed.

 

After the siege, Swedes killed several hundred defenders and dug a secret grave for them in the castle’s yard. “It’s a mysterious case. Even shortly after the Swedish Deluge people had no idea about the grave because a castle kitchen was located next to it,” say archeologists.

 

“Judging by the arrangement of the skeletons, the bodies were thrown into the grave, not properly buried. Some skulls were broken, which means that Swedes probably finished the injured off with cobble stones. They were buried naked because no personal belongings or clothes were found in the grave,” says Artur Rozanski. (mg)

 

Source: PAP