Two cemeteries containing victims of the plague from the 17th to 19th centuries have been unexpectedly discovered during construction in northern Poland.
The graves were found at a construction site for an apartment building in the town of Mikołajki, Mrągowo County, Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province. The excavation team has so far uncovered a total of 60 graves containing 100 skeletons. The discovery was announced last week.
A series of graves of plague victims excavated in northern Poland. (Photo: Jarosław Puszko)
The two cemeteries date back to the 17th or 18th century, originally used for burying plague victims. However, even after the epidemic ended, the deceased continued to be buried there until the 19th century.
“It is surprising that we are only discovering this site now. Many graves contain entire families, including adults and children,” said Agnieszka Jaremek, Vice President of the Dajna archaeological organization.
In addition to the skeletons, the excavation team also unearthed several artifacts such as porcelain plates, buttons, and a string of blue glass beads.
The skeletons will soon be examined after the excavation is completed. (Photo: Mateusz Klimek)
Joanna Sobolewska, Director of the Bureau for the Protection of Monuments in Olsztyn, the capital of Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province, stated that the skeletons will undergo examination, anthropological analysis, and may eventually be reburied in a common grave.
According to Smithsonian, the plague outbreak occurred during the Great Northern War, which took place from 1700 to 1721 between Sweden and an alliance including Russia, spreading throughout Europe, including northern Poland, and killing hundreds of thousands of people. The peak of the epidemic occurred around 1708 to 1713.
