Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery at the Roman city of Heraclea Sintica in southwestern Bulgaria: the skeletal remains of six people who tragically perished during a powerful earthquake that struck the region at the end of the fourth century A.D.
The remains were found in the southwestern corner of the city’s Roman forum, within a pair of brick-vaulted cisterns. One cistern collapsed during the earthquake, trapping those who sought refuge beneath its heavy masonry. Preserved for over 1,600 years under rubble and sediment, these human remains offer an extraordinary glimpse into the city’s final moments during a natural disaster.
A Thriving Roman City Shaken by Seismic Fury
Heraclea Sintica flourished under Roman rule due to its strategic location between the Struma River and the Kozhuh uplands. The city’s fourth-century layout included a grand forum, temples, and public buildings, reflecting both wealth and urban sophistication. However, this prosperity was interrupted by a sequence of seismic events known in historical research as the “earthquake storm” affecting the Eastern Mediterranean between the fourth and sixth centuries A.D.
The devastating quake of July 21, 365 A.D., is believed to have inflicted major damage on Heraclea Sintica. The newly studied skeletal remains represent the first confirmed earthquake victims identified in the ancient city, providing tangible evidence of the disaster’s human toll.
Archaeological Insights: Six Skeletons Preserved in Collapse
Excavations revealed five skeletons lying in partial anatomical positions atop the collapsed cistern vault. A sixth skeleton was discovered at a higher level, indicating the person may have been standing on a raised structure or attempting to aid others as the quake struck. Trauma observed on the remains, including skull fractures and broken ribs, suggests death resulted from both the fall and the collapsing masonry, roughly six meters above ground.
Evidence of Ancient Disability and Community Care
Among the victims, a young man aged 18–25 exhibited congenital pathologies, including signs of cleft palate, craniosynostosis, and missing teeth. Scholars suggest he may have had Apert syndrome, a rare genetic disorder causing severe physical and potential cognitive impairments. Despite these challenges, the individual lived into early adulthood, implying that he received ongoing care within his community. Another skull displayed similar congenital traits, hinting at a possible family link.
These discoveries shed light on ancient Roman attitudes toward disability, showing that even those with severe impairments could live within and be supported by their communities.
Forgotten in the Ruins
No personal belongings such as coins, jewelry, or clothing were found with the remains, leaving the victims’ social status unclear. Researchers hypothesize that most city inhabitants survived or were properly recovered after the earthquake, but these six individuals were trapped beneath the collapsed cistern and never retrieved.
While life continued in the city on a reduced scale, another earthquake in the fifth century eventually led to Heraclea Sintica’s permanent abandonment. The remains serve as a frozen historical snapshot, revealing the abrupt interruption of daily life by natural catastrophe in a thriving Roman provincial settlement.
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