Twenty presumably medieval skeletons were discovered in a mass burial in Vianen by municipal employees excavating a moat. It is believed that the remains are those of males aged between 15 to 30 who lived between the late Middle Ages and the 18th century.
Several rusty nails were also found at the site, suggesting that the stacked skeletons were originally buried in a wooden box. This significant discovery was made just outside the grounds of Batestein Castle, leading archaeologists to believe there might be more skeletons hidden in the vicinity.
The remains were initially discovered last Friday, with nine skeletons confirmed by the evening. However, archaeologists returned to the gruesome excavation site on Monday and found 11 more, bringing the total count to 20.
Alderwoman Christa Hendriksen, one of the archaeologists, expressed astonishment at both the discovery and the manner in which the corpses were piled up. The absence of artifacts, such as buttons or jewelry, among the remains suggests that this might have been a mass homicide, as the team expected to find items like buttons or jewelry.
There’s also speculation about the skeletons being found outside of Batestein Castle. The structure was constructed in the 14th century and faced many hardships. In 1567, the surrounding town and castle were overrun by the Spanish Army. More than a century later, fireworks ignited a large fire inside the castle’s walls, and due to financial difficulties, it was never rebuilt.
The large keep was demolished in 1771, and the rest of the castle followed between 1828 and 1829. Presently, all that remains of the castle are parts of the decorative gate, known as the Hof or Bosch Gate, and some connecting wall sections. The former castle terrain is now built over with houses.