28 Skeletons Found in 17th-Century Mass Grave in Jambes
Archaeologists in Jambes, near Namur, Belgium, have uncovered a 17th-century mass grave containing the remains of 28 individuals, offering a rare and poignant glimpse into the region’s violent past. The discovery was made in early June 2026 during preventive excavations required before the installation of semi-buried glass recycling containers at Place Saint-Calixte.
A Rare and Disturbing Find
The excavation, led by the Agence wallonne du Patrimoine (AWaP) in collaboration with the Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, revealed a pit measuring approximately 3 meters by 2 meters. Inside, 28 skeletons were found haphazardly stacked — some head-to-toe, others placed on their stomachs or backs.
According to RTBF, lead archaeologist Marie Verbeek described the scene: “Some were head-to-toe, others were placed on their stomachs and backs in a completely random manner. They seem to have been deposited without much care in the pit.”
An anthropologist who examined the remains determined that the individuals were predominantly young men. This has led researchers to believe they were likely soldiers who may have died in combat or from disease.
“This is a fairly rare discovery because usually we find bodies in a cemetery, each in their coffin,” Verbeek told La Libre. “Here, all the deceased were buried without great care and at the same time. It is this simultaneity that is uncommon, particularly in Wallonia.”
Namur: ‘The Battlefield of Europe’
Pottery fragments found near the pit date the burial to the late 17th century, possibly the early 18th century. This period was one of the most turbulent in Namur’s history. Strategically located at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, the city was known as “the battlefield of Europe.”
Namur endured at least four bloody sieges during this era, most notably the Siege of 1692, when French forces under Marshal Boufflers and engineer Vauban captured the city in the presence of King Louis XIV, and the Siege of 1695, when Allied Dutch and British troops under William III recaptured it.
As RTL Info reports, Verbeek noted: “At that time, Namur was called ‘the battlefield of Europe.’ Numerous military episodes took place during this period.”
What Happened to These Men?
While the primary hypothesis points to soldiers killed in one of the sieges, researchers have not ruled out the possibility of a disease epidemic. Verbeek explained to Bouke Media that the investigation is proceeding like a detective case, weighing multiple clues. “You can feel that it was done very quickly, undoubtedly in the context of a mortality crisis that affected the region,” she said in an audio interview with RTBF.
Fieldwork concluded on Friday, July 10, 2026. Archaeologists believe the pit may extend further, but this cannot be verified as no further construction is planned at the site.
Looking Ahead: Laboratory Analysis
The research now moves to the laboratory, where detailed analysis of the skeletal remains will continue. Scientists hope to determine the exact cause of death, geographic origin, and potentially identify which specific siege claimed these lives.
“The deceased could have been victims of one of the sieges of Namur,” Verbeek said. “If that is the case, we may be able to determine which one.”
This discovery provides tangible evidence of the human cost of the conflicts that shaped 17th-century Europe. As laboratory work progresses in the coming weeks and months, the skeletons of Jambes may finally reveal the story of who these men were and how they met their end.