Dozens of skeletons found on outskirts of Viljandi

TALLINN - The Estonian War Museum has completed excavations at a cemetery site in the Järveotsa area on the outskirts of Viljandi, where a new residential district is planned and where the dig uncovered the remains of dozens of people, the regional Sakala reports.

"The works have been concluded. We found the remains of over 40 individuals," Hellar Lill, director of the War Museum, said, adding that the findings were similar to those of a previous excavation.

"Those buried were mostly of children and women, with some elderly individuals. Russian and German coins were found, as well as cross pendants. Next, we will examine, measure, and document the skeletons and objects."

The cemetery site was discovered in early June 2024, when workers constructing roads and pipelines for the residential expansion came across human remains. It quickly became clear that the area contained a former cemetery. Archaeological excavations conducted in 2024 revealed that the site held individuals from a refugee camp for Russian civilians, which operated from 1943 to 1944. That year, 36 graves were discovered, 28 of which were archaeologically examined. Most of the buried were children, and among the adults, the majority were women.

Viljandi Deputy Mayor Kalvi Märtin said the excavation pits will be filled in by the end of this week or early next week.

"The remains will likely be reburied in Viljandi's Metsakalmistu Cemetery in mid-August, with the War Museum responsible for that," Märtin said, adding that the city can now begin preparing to sell the plots.

Military historian Jaak Pihlak said that the people once buried there will now receive a dignified reburial.

"In my view, that is very commendable. The archaeologists did a great job last year, and this year the War Museum has again acted with expertise and care," he said.