In Germany, thousands of green skeletons were discovered in one of the plague burials
Experts claim that the remains turned green because of a copper factory that dumped waste into the ground in the 19th century.
During construction work in Nuremberg, archaeologists discovered thousands of skeletons painted green in one of the plague burials. These findings became a real discovery for scientists.
Archaeologist Melanie Langbein and her team initially predicted that about a thousand skeletons would be found. However, at a depth of one and a half meters, the number of discovered remains exceeded 2,000, it is said material Picture.
Archaeologists assume that people were buried here during the plague epidemic that raged in 1632-1633. This makes the discovered cemetery the largest plague burial found in Germany.
Scientists believe that the green color of the skeletons is caused by a copper factory that dumped waste into the soil in the 19th century. Metal oxides from the waste seeped into the ground along with rainwater, which led to the coloring of the bones.
“We were surprised to see this color. We’ve only seen it with animal bones before.”, – commented Langbein.
She added that it is currently unclear what will be done with the find.
Langbein said the team is considering donating the remains to museums, but the issue has many ethical implications.
“People used to show skeletons, but today there are ethical problems”, – she explained.
For science, these skeletons are extremely important. Analysis of bone samples can help determine disease and malnutrition levels among people who lived during that time. This discovery provides a unique opportunity to better understand living conditions during plague epidemics in the 17th century.
