AI interpretationAI-generated
Ancient DNA reveals Roman soldiers in a 3rd-century mass grave had diverse origins, not local.
A mass grave in Roman Mursa (modern Osijek, Croatia) held seven adult males from the mid-3rd century CE. Bioarchaeology shows they were soldiers with injuries and heavy physical strain. Isotopes indicate a diet of mixed C3/C4 plants with little animal or marine protein. Ancient DNA shows they had heterogeneous ancestry and no genetic link to the earlier local Early Iron Age population. This fits the 'Crisis of the Third Century', likely the Battle of Mursa in 260 CE.
- All seven individuals were adult males with skeletal signs of physical strain and injuries, consistent with soldiers.
- Their diet was mainly C3/C4 plants with limited terrestrial animal and very little marine protein.
- Ancient DNA shows heterogeneous ancestry; none had genetic continuity with the local Early Iron Age population.
Sample interpretation
The site sample includes four Y-chromosome lineages: I-S2077, I-S17511, R-S497, and N-L550. Mitochondrial DNA types are K1a4c, T2b, K1a3a1, and T2b5. These diverse paternal and maternal lines support the genetic heterogeneity found in the mass grave. The mix of Y and mtDNA haplogroups points to people from different regions, not a single local community.
For genealogy enthusiasts
For ancestry enthusiasts, this shows that Roman soldiers could be genetically diverse and not tied to local populations. It highlights how ancient DNA can reveal migration and military mobility during the Roman Empire, especially in times of crisis.
Abstract
During excavations in 2011, a peculiar archaeological feature representing a mass grave with seven completely preserved skeletons was discovered at the site of the Roman period city of Mursa (modern-day Osijek, Croatia). The archaeological context and direct radiocarbon dating indicate that the bodies were interred during the mid-3rd century CE. Bioarchaeological analysis shows that all seven individuals are adult males exhibiting numerous pathological lesions (e.g., enthesopathies, injuries). Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes analysis indicates they had a mixed C3/C4-based vegetal diet with limited amounts of terrestrial animal protein and a very limited marine protein consumption. Ancient DNA analysis shows that individuals from the Mursa mass grave had a heterogenous ancestry. None of them show genetic continuity with the preceding local Early Iron Age population. The presented multidisciplinary analyses of the Mursa mass grave strongly suggest that the studied individuals were Roman soldiers, victims of a catastrophic event occurring as the result of the ‘Crisis of the Third Century’, most probably the battle of Mursa from 260 CE.