Unearthing the Past: Discovery of Unmarked Graves in Thessaloniki Park Sheds Light on Greece's Civil War Era
A new discovery of unmarked graves has been made in a park near Thessaloniki, Greece, containing 14 individuals from the country's civil war era. These bodies are believed to be prisoners who were held in a nearby fortress and executed between 1946 and 1953. The Yedi Kule castle, also known as Eptapyrgio, served as a prison where communist sympathizers were tortured and killed during the civil war and its aftermath. The graves were found during a renovation project in the park, with more bodies likely buried nearby.
The bodies found in the recent discovery were not arranged in an orderly manner like the previous ones, but rather appeared to have been thrown together haphazardly. The remains were found with items such as a woman's shoe, a handbag, and a ring, providing a glimpse into the lives of those who were killed. Families of the executed prisoners were often not informed of their fate, and some only learned about it through newspapers or chance encounters.
Local officials, including the mayor, are focused on continuing the excavation of the graves to uncover more bodies that may be buried in the area. An archaeologist is assisting in the process, and there are plans to conduct DNA tests on the remains to identify the individuals. The discovery of these graves sheds light on a dark chapter in Greece's history and the atrocities committed during the civil war era.