Athens mass grave remains likely belonged to locals, study finds

New scientific research suggests that the 79 men discovered in mass graves near ancient Athens were likely local residents rather than foreign invaders. The remains, found at the Phaleron Burial Ground in the Esplanada site, were discovered in 2016 arranged in three parallel rows, with many individuals still wearing metal shackles.

Researchers conducted strontium isotope analysis on the teeth of 66 individuals to determine their geographic origins. The study found that 96.9 percent of the tested men had isotope signatures consistent with the Attica region. This finding challenges previous theories that the burials represented the execution of foreign fighters or outside political forces.

The results indicate that the violence was likely an internal matter, potentially involving political conflict or judicial punishment during a period of transition in Archaic Greece. While the specific identities and motives of the men remain unknown, the evidence points toward a violent episode involving the local population.