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SCUBA NEWS
Divers Find Bones , Boots & Weapons
The remains of a young 16th-century soldier have been found by scuba divers in Lake Asveja in eastern Lithuania . Archaeologists found the bones beneath a layer of mud and sand at a depth of 9m . They had been excavating beneath Dubingiai Bridge , a timber structure built in 1934 to span the northern part of the lake . The discovery was described as the first of its kind in Lithuania by Elena Pranckenaite from the archaeology department at Vilnius University . She said that the location had not been a ceremonial burial site , but the soldier had been identified as such because he was found with his sword , two knives and well-preserved leather boots . How and exactly when the man had died could not be determined but his bones have been sent for forensic examination by the university ’ s medical faculty , while the soldier ’ s possessions are being conserved at the National Museum of Lithuania .
Lake Asveja lies in the east of Lithuania , north of the capital Vilnius ,
and is the country ’ s longest body of water at nearly 14 miles . It is said to be explored regularly by underwater archaeologists .
Diventures Magazine November 2020