Athens mass grave mystery: Shackled men identified as locals

New research has provided clarity regarding the identity of 79 men found in a mass grave at the Phaleron Cemetery near Athens. The remains, which were discovered in 2016, were notable because the men were buried in three rows with iron shackles still around their wrists.

An analysis led by Julianne R. Stamer of Arizona State University utilized strontium isotope testing on the tooth enamel of 66 of the men. This method allows researchers to determine where individuals spent their childhood based on the chemical signatures of local water and food. The results revealed that approximately 97 percent of the men were local to the Attica region.

These findings challenge previous theories that the men might have been foreign invaders or an external military group. Instead, the data suggests the group was part of the local population, strengthening the hypothesis that their deaths were linked to internal political or social conflicts within Attica during the Archaic period (700–460 BCE).