2,200 bodies recovered so far from Spain's largest mass Civil War grave

2,200 bodies recovered so far from Spain's largest mass Civil War grave
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By h.b. - Jul 23, 2008 - 8:01 AM

Regional authorities on a recent visit to the San Rafael Cemetery site in Málaga - Photo EFE

Work is to continue at the San Rafael Cemetery in Málaga is to continue over the summer.

Work is continuing at the San Rafael Cemetery in Málaga to recover and catalogue the remains of the people shot by fascist troops and placed in a series of mass graves at the site.

It’s thought that 4,500 people met their deaths there between the years 1936 and 1951, and so far 2,200 bodies have been recovered and documented from what is the largest mass grave site in Spain.

Chief archaeologist for the project, Sebastián Fernández, told the La Opinion de Málaga newspaper that recently a large number of children’s bodies have been found, thought to be the offspring of republicans who died from epidemics or a lack of nutrition.

A fifth of the bodies found are women, and most of them were carrying a medal with a picture of the Virgen del Carmen, the patron of Málaga.

Francisco Espinosa from the Association for Historic Memory wants each body to undergo DNA testing, but that will need the support of the Government. What will certainly happen is that a monument with the names of all the victims is to be constructed on the site where 80 volunteers will continue with the work over the summer.

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