Main information
- Experts from Belgium, Commonwealth, France and Germany have collaborated on a excavation project on a golf course in Ypres, Belgium.
- 22 remains of soldiers from the first World War were uncovered during the ten days of excavation.
- The objects found, including skeletal remains and personal objects, are being analyzed at the Institute of Military Heritage in Belgium.
The discovery
The remains of 22 soldiers from the First World War were recently unearthed on a golf course in Ypres, Belgium. This discovery is the result of a unique international collaboration between experts from Flanders, Commonwealth, France and Germany.
A global effort to honor those who fell in battle
The excavation project was carried out by the CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) on behalf of the Commonwealth Nations, alongside the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (VDK), representing Germany, and the Directorate of Memory, Culture and Archives (DMCA). This unprecedented partnership underlines the common desire to honor the memory of those who perished during the war.
Archaeological results
This discovery follows a first archaeological study conducted by a Flemish team in 2022. The situation in the estate along the old front line, where the Allied and German forces were entrenched a few meters from each other between 1914 and 1917, made it a site of choice for such discoveries.
-Recovery and analysis
During the ten days of excavation, archaeologists discovered not only leftovers of skeletons, but also personal and military objects. All recovered objects have been transferred to the War Heritage Institute (WHI) in Belgium to be analyzed. The first evaluations suggest that most soldiers were Germans, although French soldiers and Commonwealth can also be among the deceased.
A sustainable heritage
The success of the project is largely due to the coordination role played by Flanders, which has demonstrated its desire to preserve history and to honor the sacrifices made in wartime. The soldiers found will finally receive appropriate burials, probably in a military cemetery in Flanders.
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