15th-century church wall collapses in Portugal: dozens of human remains found among the ruins

An unfortunate incident at the historic Igreja Matriz de Portimão church in the city of Portimão, Portugal, has attracted attention both locally and internationally. Recently, a portion of the walls of this 15th-century place of worship collapsed due to rain and moisture.

Experts who arrived on site to examine the debris made an unexpected discovery — beneath the fallen structure, remains of at least 12 individuals were found. Researchers believe the skeletons may date from the 16th to 19th centuries and are likely associated with a former cemetery once located at the site.

Cemetery history: burial practices inside churches

According to archaeologist Rita Dias, in earlier centuries churches were not only used for prayer but also served as burial grounds.

“Graves were often layered one over another — the same place was used multiple times. This practice was widespread due to lack of space and poor sanitation conditions of the time,” said the archaeologist.

This burial tradition was officially banned in 1869 based on sanitation regulations. Six years earlier, in 1863, a new designated cemetery was established in Portimão.

More discoveries expected

Currently, archaeologists are working to gather precise information about the discovered skeletons — including their gender, age, and possible causes of death.

Portimão’s city authorities and local historians do not rule out the possibility of finding more skeletal remains around the church grounds.

As part of the ongoing excavation efforts, the damaged walls are expected to be reinforced, and the remains will be examined from historical and scientific perspectives — possibly to be displayed in a museum.

Zamin.uz editorial team will continue reporting on such fascinating developments in history and archaeology. What do you think about such discoveries? How can they reshape our understanding of the past? Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!