Overview
- Seven fully preserved male skeletons were excavated from a repurposed well at Osijek (ancient Mursa) in 2011 and appear to have been dumped shortly after death with valuables removed.
- Carbon dating of four individuals to the later 3rd century aligns with a coin minted in A.D. 251, supporting a link to the Crisis of the Third Century rather than a 351 C.E. battle reported by some outlets.
- Trauma analysis documents blunt-force impacts to the face and puncture wounds likely from arrows or spear tips, consistent with combat casualties disposed of in a single episode.
- Ancient DNA shows high genetic diversity and nonlocal ancestry, matching the heterogeneous makeup of Roman military forces, while isotope data indicate grain-heavy diets with limited meat.
- Researchers say the context fits casualties from the Battle of Mursa in A.D. 260 and plan further analyses of a second similar well nearby.