Ancient cemetery in Hungary with 1,000 graves unearthed via satellite imagery
A new archaeological site identified via satellite imagery near Tatabánya may date back thousands of years and contain up to a thousand graves.
In April 2025, the Topographical Department of the National Archaeological Institute of the Hungarian National Museum (MNM NRI) and the Tatabánya Museum identified a new archaeological site on the outskirts of Tatabánya. According to estimates, the cemetery—likely part of a larger settlement—could include as many as a thousand graves, the Tatabánya Museum reports.
Spotted from satellite images
The collaboration began when Attila Papp, an archaeologist with the NRI’s Topographical Department, approached Gabriella Pál of the Tatabánya Museum after aerial images revealed discoloured patches in the grain fields suggestive of burial sites. “The aerial photographs showed stunningly symmetrical rectangles,” said Pál. During the winter, the team contacted the landowner and operator, who gave permission to conduct a preliminary investigation.
Researchers examined two graves within a 3-by-5-meter test section. Their initial assumptions were confirmed: the site is indeed a Migration Period cemetery, and they were able to determine the exact historical period. According to the team, they gathered significant insights into burial customs during just four days of onsite exploration.
“Two graves were included within the test trench, both deep and oriented west to east. Unfortunately, both had been looted, but we recovered enough artefacts to confidently identify the site as a large Avar-era burial ground,” Pál stated.
Some findings identified, more research needed
The Tatabánya site was initially flagged using aerial photographs taken by a drone, which provided the first key indicators. According to archaeologist Attila Papp, the cemetery’s numerous graves were easily identifiable by crop and plant discolourations. Based on the imagery, the site likely contains between 500 and 1,000 graves.
Further research into different coffin types could yield even more insights. The looting likely occurred while the wooden coffins were still intact, as the remains show significant decomposition since then. Additionally, burn marks found beneath the coffin lids can offer clues for carbon dating. Papp noted that such burn patterns have appeared at multiple survey sites.
Tatabánya is the third partner in the research initiative
Papp revealed that this dig is part of a larger collaborative project titled “Cemeteries from Space,” aimed at identifying and verifying archaeological features seen in aerial and satellite imagery. The Tatabánya dig marks the project’s third site, with more to follow.
“These are newly discovered sites, and because we’re dealing with such a vast volume, collaboration is the only way forward. This is our third location with our third institutional partner, and it truly is a joint effort with shared results. It adds local value while contributing to national archaeological mapping,” said Papp.
“With these partnerships, we’re able to reach and map many previously overlooked or undocumented burial sites. We can now protect, study, and date them in ways that were previously impossible. We’re talking about hundreds of new burial sites nationwide that had not been the focus of research until now.”
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