Mass grave of children was discovered under Roman bath

In 2015, scientists made an unusual discovery in the Jewish coastal city of Ashkelon. While searching the local sewage system, they noticed small bones. Initially, they were considered parts of chickens, but after research, human bones from Roman times were found. They are believed to be the remains of more than 100 infants.

The killing of newborn babies was common in Roman times as a form of “birth control”. The mother usually abandoned the child, entrusted someone else to care, or simply killed. Scientists believe that in this case, the babies died on purpose.