Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Jews buried in 13th century Spanish cemetery "well preserved"
Jewish Telegraphic Agency ^ | Sunday, June 23, 2013 | JTA

Posted on 07/04/2013 9:17:35 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

A Spanish historian who identified and catalogued 107 tombs in a 13th-century Jewish cemetery in Toledo said the remains were "well preserved".

The cemetery was partially unearthed in 2008, but the delineation and archaeological study of the graves was only recently completed, according to the Spanish news agency, EFE.

The archaeologist leading the excavations, Arturo Ruiz Taboada, told EFE earlier this month that the people buried in the 107 Jewish tombs were "well preserved" and deposited unusually deep in the ground, some over 9 feet from ground level. The identity of many of those buried at the site remains unknown.

The deep burial may have been to ensure that the Jews were not buried with the remains of others, Jews and non-Jews alike, who had been buried in the area, Taboada told the news agency.

Taboada said that some burial plots contained whole families, including several tombs where mothers were buried with newborn infants.

Archaeologists first learned of the cemetery s existence in 2008, when human bones were found in the grounds of a local school. The Spanish government began excavating there but stopped following protests by Jewish groups.

Local authorities in Toledo -- a major center of Jewish life before the expulsion of Spain's Jewish communities in 1492 had offered to hand over the bones for reburial at another site, but eventually they were reburied in 2011 at the same cemetery at the request of the local Jewish community and European Jewish groups.

(Excerpt) Read more at jta.org ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: arturoruiztaboada; godsgravesglyphs; middleages; spain
Jews buried in 13th century Spanish cemetery well preserved

1 posted on 07/04/2013 9:17:35 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; decimon; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; ...

2 posted on 07/04/2013 9:18:22 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (McCain or Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
It's easy to understand why some of the remains are unknown, its’ from the 13th century.

What is harder to understand is why some of the remains in the National Cemetery at Arlington are unknown due to poor record keeping.

3 posted on 07/04/2013 9:23:42 AM PDT by Venturer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

said the remains were “well preserved”.

But still dead.


4 posted on 07/04/2013 9:27:05 AM PDT by ThomasThomas ("We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThomasThomas

Well, at least their condition is stabilized


5 posted on 07/04/2013 9:38:14 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Venturer
What is harder to understand is why some of the remains in the National Cemetery at Arlington are unknown due to poor record keeping.

Very easy to understand once you realize that the cemetery is run by the government.

6 posted on 07/04/2013 9:44:01 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Too bad, no pictures.

But I understand that people might not want their ancestors’ bodies to be put on display. They’re all buried again anyway.


7 posted on 07/04/2013 10:04:42 AM PDT by TheOldLady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: TheOldLady

Im sure some one has some pictures


8 posted on 07/04/2013 11:18:44 AM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: TheOldLady

There may be some photos from three years ago. :’)


9 posted on 07/04/2013 1:15:18 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (McCain or Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson