Renovations of a soccer field near Vienna, Austria recently revealed a large tomb: a large tomb dating back to the first century AD and the Roman Empire. The cemetery contained the skeletons of potentially more than 150 soldiers. Archaeologists say the discovery is as dark as it is unique and may offer unexpected new insights into life in the Roman frontier, which is at the height of its power.
The city of Vienna has been around for hundreds of years, but its history has expanded further into the past. About 2,000 years ago, the Roman army spread across what is now Austria, establishing multiple military pre-post bases throughout the region. One of the largest risons built was a settlement known as Bindbona on the Danube, which eventually came to include between 160 million and 20,000 residents. Rome is ultimately I left Vindbona to Huns In 433 AD, the former post base was abandoned for the next centuries. However, experts have only historical accounts of regional combat prior to this, and there is no direct evidence.
In October 2024, the construction team came across a sea of skeletal ruins while working on renovations to a soccer field in Simmerling, a nearby town in Vienna. Archaeologists at the Vienna Museum immediately visited the site and confirmed the extraordinary one. It’s a tomb of at least 129 masses, but perhaps even more. Further analysis confirms that the bodies belong to the Roman legions, almost 20-30 years old, with all appearing to show evidence of fatal combat injuries from spears, swords, daggers and bolts.
However, this discovery is surprising from a daily standpoint, and has proven difficult for archaeologists to believe. As history showsRome was not known for its lack of military campaigns. However, until the 4th century AD, the Romans did not even bury their bodies.
“In the Roman Empire, there was a strict burial ceremony, and the exact rules had to be followed during the death of the country,” said Christina Adler Wellful, Vienna’s head of archaeology. City announcement. “In the European part of the Roman Empire, cremation was common around 100 AD. [CE]inhalation is an absolute exception. Therefore, discoveries of Roman skeletons during this period are extremely rare. ”
“There is no equivalent discovery of fighter jets in the context of Roman warfare,” added Digleader Michaela Binder on April 4th. Arkeonews.

Historical accounts report multiple battles between the Romans and Germanic peoples at the Danube border during the reign of Emperor Domitia (A. 81-96). These led his successor, Trajan (98-117 CE), to expand the boundaries of the later known fortress of Vindabona Danube Rock Lime.
“The tombs of the masses in the simmering season are the first physical evidence to fight since this era, indicating the location of battle in the region of Vienna today,” said archaeologist Martin Mosser.
According to Mosser, the mass graves could be directly linked to Emperor Trayan’s decision to strengthen the defense of the region following the Germanic conflict.
Archaeologists plan to excavate more cemeteries and perform DNA and isotopic analysis to give them a better understanding of the warrior’s living conditions. In time, unique discoveries may expand and clarify what we know about Roman history in the first century.
“In Vienna, we are ready to encounter traces of Rome as soon as the pavement opens or the earth opens,” said Veronica Kaup Hustler, Vienna’s Council for Cultural Sciences. “After all, Vindobona has laid the foundation stones for our city.”