Another mass grave from Greece’s civil war era has been uncovered in Thessaloniki, revealing the remains of 14 executed prisoners.
Authorities in Thessaloniki have uncovered another mass grave believed to contain the remains of 14 individuals executed during Greece’s 1946–49 Civil War and its aftermath. The discovery was made during renovation works in a park near the city’s Neapolis-Sykies suburb.
According to supervising engineer Haris Charismiadis, the bodies were found near the surface, tossed in a heap with separated torsos and skulls. “We insisted on continuing the digging for the graves,” said local mayor Simos Daniilidis.
The victims are thought to have been communist sympathizers imprisoned at the nearby Yedi Kule (Eptapyrgio) fortress. Previously excavated graves nearby revealed 33 bodies laid side by side.
The grim find included personal items like a woman’s shoe, handbag, and ring. Families of the disappeared have called for DNA tests, which have yet to begin.
Tens of thousands died during the brutal post-war conflict. Authorities say excavation efforts will continue to ensure the victims receive overdue recognition and burial.