Researchers Study Mysterious Deaths in Mass Grave at Ancient Haft Tappeh

A mass grave containing the remains of more than 250 people was discovered by archaeologists at the ancient city of Haft Tappeh, Iran. Scientist are now working to determine how these people perished, and why they were piled haphazardly behind a wall. Were these victims of a deadly epidemic, or a vicious massacre?

According to reports from lead excavator Behzad Mofidi-Nasrabadi, archaeologist from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany, the 3,400-year-old remains of several hundred victims were found haphazardly thrown over one another and buried behind one of the ancient outer walls.

Piled Bodies of Men, Women and Children

Mofidi-Nasrabadi says at least 149 individuals have been excavated so far based on the number of skulls. An additional 100 to 150 skeletons are thought to be buried in an unexcavated section of the trench. Some of the remains belong to children.