A recently opened mass grave in Barranco de Víznar, Granada, has been desecrated this past weekend, with the remains of 10 individuals who were shot and found with their hands tied behind their backs in 1936. According to Francisco Carrión, the head of the investigation, at least two individuals entered the tent covering the mass grave and removed the upper and lower jawbones of one of the bodies. These jawbones had 11 gold teeth, which are believed to be the primary target of the desecration. Fortunately, there was no further damage to the bodies. The investigators had finished their work at the grave on Friday afternoon and discovered the desecration on Monday morning. Carrión has filed a report with the Civil Guard, who are now investigating the incident on site.
The theft is believed to have occurred on Sunday, following a rainstorm on Saturday. The grave was opened a few weeks ago, and in April, the remains of the 10 individuals were discovered with their hands tied behind their backs, a rare occurrence in Barranco de Víznar where previous mass graves did not show this characteristic. So far, 124 people who were murdered by Francoist troops during the Spanish Civil War have been uncovered in the area. Prior to the theft, the investigators had exhumed six of the ten bodies, but the loss of the jawbones hinders the possibility of a craniofacial identification, although genetic analysis remains an option.
This is not the first incident of theft in Barranco de Víznar during the four campaigns conducted by the University of Granada’s University and Memory project. Despite efforts to secure the site with closed tents and caution tape, there have been previous thefts of tools and a jawbone, unrelated to the recent gold teeth theft. In a separate incident earlier this year, a man was assaulted by another individual in the area surrounding the mass grave. The victim, who frequents the area in search of his grandfather’s remains, was attacked after questioning the assailant about potential burials in the area.
The desecration of the mass grave in Barranco de Víznar has raised concerns about the protection of historical sites and the respectful handling of human remains. The investigators and forensic experts working on the excavation have emphasized the importance of preserving the dignity of the deceased and conducting thorough analyses to identify the victims and bring closure to their families. The investigation into the recent theft of gold teeth from the mass grave is ongoing, with the Civil Guard leading the efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure the integrity of the site.
