Archaeologists working on the excavations of St. Bavon’s Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium, accidentally made a grim discovery.
While digging the foundation for a new church extension, workers discovered something truly sinister. Archeologists who arrived at the excavation site identified a real wall made of human bones. These were mainly the bones of the thighs and lower legs of adults, mixed with fragments of fragmented skulls.
The remains date from around the 15th century. They were probably tightly folded and packed so that as many bones as possible fit in a confined space. However, the scientists themselves admit that they have no idea what for, in fact, it was necessary to erect a semblance of a wall of human bones. The lead researcher, Janek de Gris, said that usually in the funeral pits, the bones lie abundantly, but more or less freely. In the case of the Cathedral of St. Bravon, the remains were specially laid so as to create a single, dense structure.
Small bones, such as ribs and fingers, were never found. It is worth noting that in the 15th century, children’s graves, especially massive ones, were looked after very poorly. When they had to move bodies that crumble to dust, the grave diggers usually just took the largest bones, not paying attention to small fragments. In those days, people believed in the literal resurrection of the body, and therefore relics were considered sacred and the practice of burials flourished more than ever. It is no accident that the remains of approximately six million people were buried in the catacombs of Paris!
