Human remains found in Tallinn center

May 05, 2008
In cooperation with BNS

TALLINN - Human remains were found during archaeological excavations in the area of the would-be EstonianFreedomMonument in central Tallinn.

Defence Ministry spokeswoman Meeli Hunt told BNS that archaeologists found the remains of two persons from the excavation site on the Harjumagi slope.

Although it is not yet clear what time the remains are from, Hunt said it was likely that the burial could be from the period of World War II. This could be decided by the relatively good condition of the remains and the fact that and one of them was found wearing boots.

A DNA analysis will be conducted following the excavations.

The excavations on Harjumagi Hill are continuing with the archaeologists trying to find objects from the grave that could refer to the time of burial.

Last month excavations started on the whole territory of the War of Independence Freedom monument.

Last month 17th-18th century walls that had not been indicated on maps of the period were unearthed from the soil of the bastion during the excavations.