AssetID: 55949047
Headline: Mass grave reveals the secret to defeating a Roman soldier: Stab him in the groin
Caption: BY MARK WORGAN A mass grave of Roman soldiers may have revealed a rare and painful weakness in a Centurion’s armour - a susceptibility to being stabbed in the groin. Such graves from the early Empire are exceptionally rare in Europe, largely because cremation was widely practised until the 3rd Century AD. The grave was discovered by construction workers in Vienna in October 2024 during renovation work at a sports field in the Simmering district. Its unusual nature has therefore provided archaeologists with a dramatic insight into the violence of the Roman world. In a statement, staff from the Vienna Museum said it contained men, “mostly over 1.7 metres tall” who were between 20-30 years old. Though their background health was very good, injuries to the “skull, torso and pelvis” were found on the majority of the individuals, which were attributed to “blunt and sharp weapons, including spears, daggers, swords and iron bolts from ranged weapons.” They added: “The variety of injuries indicates a battle and not an execution.” Archaeologists later documented the remains of at least 129 individuals, with the total number estimated to be more than 150 after bones disturbed by the construction work were taken into account. The bodies had been placed in a pit without any apparent order or formal burial rites. Many were lying on their sides or stomachs, with limbs intertwined, suggesting they had been buried hastily. Researchers say the treatment of the dead points to a catastrophic event in a military context. The latest examination, from archaeology firm Novetus GmbH, has revealed a striking pattern: around 40 per cent showed trauma on or around the pelvis. In one case, a spearhead was still embedded in the hip area. Researchers believe some of the injuries may have been caused by mounted attackers using lances to strike through vulnerable gaps in their opponents' armour - indicating a rare weakness in the Roman war machine - a susceptibility to being stabbed in the groin area. Radiocarbon dating placed the remains between about AD 80 and 230, while objects found in the grave have helped narrow the date towards the late 1st or early 2nd Century. Historical records show the period was marked by repeated conflict between the Roman Empire and Germanic groups along the Roman frontier. The team also hope the discovery could also shed light on the early history of Vienna, which began life as a frontier Roman settlement on the Danube. The Vienna Museum team added: "The mass grave in Simmering is the first physical evidence of fighting from this period and indicates the location of a battle in the area of present-day Vienna. The defeat attested here could therefore have been the immediate reason for the expansion of the formerly small military base into the legionary camp of Vindobona - less than seven kilometers from the site of the find. Hasenleitengasse may therefore mark the beginning of Vienna's urban history." The findings were presented on 6 August at the 25th European Paleopathology Association meeting.
Keywords: feature,photo,rome,soldiers,archaeology,romans
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