Remains from Mass Grave in Japan Suggest Epidemic in 1800s
2020-08-31
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Workers have unearthed the remains of more than 1,500 people in western Japan.
2Archeologists report finding evidence that many of those individuals died of disease, possibly in an epidemic.
3The burial ground is thought to date back to the 1850s.
4It is being dug up for a development project in the city of Osaka.
5Officials at Osaka's City Cultural Properties Association have studied the remains.
6They said many of the individuals were likely in their 30s or small children when they died.
7The Umeda Grave is one of seven historical burial grounds in Osaka.
8It was discovered near a main train station as part of a redevelopment project that began in September 2019.
9In an earlier study, workers dug up hundreds of similar remains in surrounding areas, said Yoji Hirata, an official at Osaka's Cultural Properties Association.
10"It was our first historical discovery of a burial site in Osaka," Hirata said.
11"The findings will provide details of burial traditions of ordinary people back then."
12In the earlier find, many remains showed signs of disease in the hands and feet.
13The discovery of additional, similar remains suggests the 19th century mass grave was used for victims of an epidemic in the area, Hirata said.
14All the remains have been removed from the work area.
15Experts hope to examine them and other objects to learn more details about the deaths.
16Some experts have suggested that the epidemic could have involved syphilis, which was widespread during the time in populated areas.
17Many of the remains were in small round holes, where bodies appeared to have been buried on top of each other.
18Researchers found coffins containing more than one skeleton, a sign that many epidemic victims were buried together, Hirata said.
19Reuters news agency says researchers discovered about 350 small graves.
20They also found the remains of animals including four piglets, horses and cats, city officials said.
21Researchers also unearthed money, Buddhist jewelry and dolls that were believed to have been buried with the dead.
22Hirata said experts plan to prepare a report with their findings by the end of next year.
23The burial ground sits in what used to be a farming area near the city's famous Osaka Castle.
24It was one of seven major cemeteries in the city.
25People used to visit the cemeteries to pray for their ancestors during Japan's mid-summer Bon season under Buddhist tradition.
26I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Workers have unearthed the remains of more than 1,500 people in western Japan. Archeologists report finding evidence that many of those individuals died of disease, possibly in an epidemic. 2The burial ground is thought to date back to the 1850s. It is being dug up for a development project in the city of Osaka. 3Officials at Osaka's City Cultural Properties Association have studied the remains. They said many of the individuals were likely in their 30s or small children when they died. 4The Umeda Grave is one of seven historical burial grounds in Osaka. It was discovered near a main train station as part of a redevelopment project that began in September 2019. 5In an earlier study, workers dug up hundreds of similar remains in surrounding areas, said Yoji Hirata, an official at Osaka's Cultural Properties Association. 6"It was our first historical discovery of a burial site in Osaka," Hirata said. "The findings will provide details of burial traditions of ordinary people back then." 7In the earlier find, many remains showed signs of disease in the hands and feet. The discovery of additional, similar remains suggests the 19th century mass grave was used for victims of an epidemic in the area, Hirata said. 8All the remains have been removed from the work area. Experts hope to examine them and other objects to learn more details about the deaths. Some experts have suggested that the epidemic could have involved syphilis, which was widespread during the time in populated areas. 9Many of the remains were in small round holes, where bodies appeared to have been buried on top of each other. Researchers found coffins containing more than one skeleton, a sign that many epidemic victims were buried together, Hirata said. 10Reuters news agency says researchers discovered about 350 small graves. They also found the remains of animals including four piglets, horses and cats, city officials said. Researchers also unearthed money, Buddhist jewelry and dolls that were believed to have been buried with the dead. 11Hirata said experts plan to prepare a report with their findings by the end of next year. The burial ground sits in what used to be a farming area near the city's famous Osaka Castle. It was one of seven major cemeteries in the city. 12People used to visit the cemeteries to pray for their ancestors during Japan's mid-summer Bon season under Buddhist tradition. 13I'm Bryan Lynn. 14The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 15We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 16________________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18epidemic - n. when a large number of people get the same disease over the same period of time 19ordinary - adj. not special, different, or unusual in any way 20coffin - n. a box used to bury dead people in 21doll - n. a child's toy that looks like a small person 22cemetery - n. a place where dead people are buried