Medieval Mass Grave Linked to Black Death Discovered Near Erfurt, Germany

Significant Discovery in Central Germany

An interdisciplinary research team, primarily from Leipzig University, has announced the identification of a potential mass grave near Erfurt, Germany, believed to hold victims of the 14th-century Black Death. This discovery, made near the deserted medieval village of Neuses, represents a significant step in understanding the devastating impact of the plague in Europe.

Historical records from the nearby city of Erfurt indicate that in 1350, when the Black Death swept through the region, approximately 12,000 people were interred in 11 large pits located outside the city. The precise locations of these mass burials had remained unknown for centuries.

Innovative Research Methodology

Unlike accidental finds, this discovery was the result of a systematic and interdisciplinary approach. The team, led by geographer Michael Hein of Leipzig University, combined historical research with advanced scientific methods. They utilized land measurements, resistivity mapping (electrical resistivity mapping), and sediment coring to pinpoint a large, underground structure.

Radiocarbon dating of bone fragments recovered from core samples confirmed that the remains date back to the 14th century, aligning with the historical accounts of the Black Death outbreak. Michael Hein stated, 'Our results strongly suggest that we have pinpointed one of the plague mass graves described in the Erfurt chronicles.'

Implications and Future Research

The identified site measures approximately 33 by 49 by 11.5 feet and contains mixed sediments along with human remains. This find is particularly notable as it is considered the first systematically identified burial site associated with plague victims in Europe, with confirmed and precisely dated Black Death mass graves being exceptionally rare, numbering fewer than ten across the continent.

The burial practices observed, such as the placement of the grave in a drier chernozem zone along the River Gera valley edge, reflect medieval beliefs, including the 'miasma theory' which suggested diseases spread through 'bad air' from decaying matter.

While the evidence strongly points to a Black Death mass grave, definitive confirmation awaits planned archaeological excavation. Future research at the site is expected to provide invaluable insights into:

• The evolution of the Yersinia pestis pathogen, which causes the plague.
• The specific causes of the high mortality rates during the mid-14th century.
• How societies coped with widespread epidemics in the medieval period.

The study was published in the journal PLOS One, with contributions from the Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe (GWZO) and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), including co-author Ulrike Werban.