Skeletons Found In Ancient Well May Be Roman Soldiers From ‘Age Of Anarchy’

Seven male skeletons discovered at the bottom of an ancient well in Croatia likely belonged to Roman soldiers killed during one of history’s bloodiest periods, according to a new study.

Archaeologists found the remains in 2011 during excavations in Osijek, once the Roman city of Mursa. The bodies had been thrown into the well haphazardly, some head-down, and stripped of weapons and valuables before burial, according to a study published in PLOS One journal.

Radiocarbon dating placed the deaths in the second half of the third century, matching a Roman coin minted in 251 A.D. found in the well. Researchers believe the men died in the Battle of Mursa in 260 A.D., when Emperor Gallienus defeated the usurper Ingenuus.

The skeletons belonged to young and middle-aged males who stood taller than average for the region. All showed signs of intense physical activity and muscle use consistent with military service. Several had suffered violent injuries, including blunt force trauma to the skull, rib fractures and weapon wounds. (RELATED: Researchers Unearth Long-Lost Fortress That Guarded Gateway To Ancient Egypt)

Archaeologists have discovered a mass grave of Roman soldiers hidden inside an ancient well in Croatia. https://t.co/3DavzkSt7t

— Live Science (@LiveScience) October 15, 2025

“Presumably, all of the individuals were stripped of any valuables — weapons, armor, equipment, jewelry, etc. — before they were thrown into the well,” study lead author Mario Novak told Live Science.

DNA analysis revealed the soldiers came from vastly different ethnic backgrounds, with ancestry traced to Northern Europe, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. None showed genetic ties to the local population.

The findings align with historical records of Roman armies recruiting diverse groups including Sarmatians, Saxons and Gauls. More than 20 emperors rose and fell between 235 and 284 A.D. during the Crisis of the Third Century.

Researchers are now analyzing a second mass burial found nearby in another well.