Rare Roman-era battlefield mass grave discovered under Austrian football field

During renovation work at a football field in one of Vienna’s outer residential district, construction crews accidentally uncovered a significant archaeological find: a mass grave dating back to the 1st century AD, believed to contain the remains of Roman warriors involved in a conflict with Germanic tribes.

Following extensive excavation, experts from the Vienna Museum identified 129 skeletal remains, with estimates suggesting the actual number of victims exceeds 150 — an unprecedented discovery in Central Europe. The grave is considered evidence of a major military event, with an article by the Austrian media pointing out that it marks the earliest known battle in the region. The discovery is the first direct evidence of a battle on the Danube Limes, which until now could only be documented through historical sources.

Michaela Binder, who led the excavation, emphasized the uniqueness of the discovery, noting that while battlefields in Germany often reveal weapons, finding the remains of deceased Roman fighters is rare. 

“As cremation burials were common in the European parts of the Roman Empire around 100 AD, body burials were an absolute exception. Finds of Roman skeletons from this period are therefore extremely rare,” explained Kristina Adler-Wölfl, Head of City Archaeology.

The remains were first discovered in October 2024 and after months long analysis have been found to belong to men aged 20 to 30, all of whom appeared to have died in battle. Injuries inflicted by swords, spears, daggers, and projectile bolts suggest they perished in a violent military clash. Experts theorize that this grave may be linked to Roman Emperor Domitian’s Danube campaigns (86–96 AD), a series of conflicts fought between Rome and Germanic tribes.

Additionally, the findings provide early evidence of settlement development in the area that would later become the modern-day capital of Austria. Like many European cities, Vienna has Roman origins. In the 1st century AD, the Romans established a military camp called Vindobona, which was part of the defensive Limes frontier. The camp was located at what is now the heart of the city, and remnants of its walls are still reflected in Vienna’s modern street layout. By the 3rd century AD, a civilian settlement had begun to develop just outside the military encampment, marking the beginnings of Vienna as we know it today.

By Nazrin Sadigova