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Stalin-era mass grave yields tons of bones
CWCID I heard about this on NPR. The mind boggles and the heart breaks.Russia has uncovered at least 495 skeletons, many with head gunshot wounds, in a mass grave probably dating back to purges under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in the 1930s, municipal authorities said Wednesday. At least 3.5 tonnes of bones were extracted from the site on the outskirts of the Pacific Ocean port of Vladivostok after it was discovered by workmen building a road, the city government said in a statement. 495 skeletons. 3.5 tonnes of bones. Must have had American size obesity problems in 30s Russia. Experts were checking the hypothesis that the bodies were victims of Stalin's purges. Some experts "Practically all of the skulls have bullet wounds," said Yaroslav Livanksy, the head of a group of volunteers who helped to excavate the site. Bullet wounds in skulls, that's a clue. He said money and clothes from the 1930s had been found at the site. A crushed child's skull was discovered close to a bead bracelet and a small slipper. 1930s money. That lets the tsar off the hook. Irina Fliege, a senior researcher with Russian human rights group Memorial, which collects information about Stalin-era killings, said she had no doubt that the victims were shot by Stalinist forces. A real expert. She said far more bodies were likely to be found as adjacent sites are studied. Something to which to look forward. "This happens all over the country, it's impossible to say how often," Felige said. "All we can to is put up monuments to remember the dead." And pray. Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2010-06-11 |
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