Archaeologists uncover 139 potential burial sites on hillside

In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the progress of non-invasive archaeological investigations conducted over the past three years on a significant hill site. The team employed human remains detection dogs, which have proven effective in identifying decay scents, leading to the discovery of potential burial sites. Notably, these dogs have demonstrated the ability to detect remains that are thousands of years old, as evidenced by successful cases in Europe.

Following the canine assessments, the archaeologists utilized ground penetrating radar (GPR) to verify the locations indicated by the dogs and to explore further across the site. This comprehensive approach has led to the identification of 139 burial sites on the upper plateau and southern hill areas. However, challenges arose on the north side of the site, where the steep terrain prevented the use of both dogs and GPR. Limited exploration on the east side did yield bone fragments, indicating the presence of human remains.

The findings suggest that some burial sites may be well-preserved, potentially containing iron artifacts, while others are situated at a shallow depth of six to twelve inches. The ongoing research highlights the importance of non-invasive techniques in uncovering historical burial practices and contributes to the broader understanding of the site's archaeological significance.