Archaeologists have recently unearthed the remains of Roman warriors in an ancient well near modern-day Osijek, Croatia, providing profound insights into the violent conclusion of the Battle of Mursa in 260 AD. The discovery, published in the journal PLOS One, reveals that these soldiers were among the defeated forces of Emperor Gallienus, who secured his victory over rebel commander Ingenuus. The well, situated outside the ancient city walls of Mursa, was initially excavated in 2011, but it was only through advanced analytical techniques that the historical significance of the site was fully understood.
Researchers employed radiocarbon dating and isotopic analysis to determine that the soldiers were between 18 and 50 years old at the time of their deaths. The remains displayed clear evidence of fatal sword cuts, punctures, and broken bones, indicating the brutal nature of the battle. Genetic testing further revealed that the soldiers had mixed ancestry, encompassing Northern European, Eastern European, and Eastern Mediterranean origins. This diversity suggests the Roman military’s composition during this tumultuous period of the Crisis of the Third Century, a time of widespread civil unrest and external threats to the empire.
Professor Mario Novak, an associate professor at the Institute for Anthropological Research in Zagreb and a key investigator in the study, emphasized the symbolic significance of the soldiers’ disposal. ‘The main intention was to humiliate them, even in death, by dumping them unceremoniously in a used well without proper care and any rites,’ said Novak. ‘If these were soldiers belonging to the winning side, our reasoning is that they would be buried in formal graves with full ceremony and not like this.’
The researchers also identified a coin found in the well, likely dropped by chance, as the bodies would have been stripped of valuables. The presence of a cow carcass atop some of the skeletons further hints at the deliberate act of humiliation, reinforcing the idea that these soldiers were treated as a defeated force, their bodies treated with no regard for dignity. The well was subsequently filled and never used again, indicating the significance of the deposition in the minds of the victorious Romans.
Novak highlighted the rarity of such mass graves within the Roman Empire, noting that most known examples are associated with epidemics rather than wars. ‘Mass graves associated with wars and battles are quite rare,’ he remarked. The study not only sheds light on the tragic end of these warriors but also contributes to a broader understanding of the Roman Empire’s crisis periods, offering historians a tangible piece of the puzzle in the narrative of this tumultuous era.