An amulet bearing the number 516 and a one-rupee coin have been found alongside human remains during ongoing excavation at the alleged Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna, bringing the total recovered skeletons to 539.
Excavation teams working at the alleged Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna have recovered an amulet inscribed with the number 516 and a one-rupee coin found with one of the human skeletons uncovered at the site on Tuesday. The items were discovered near the Chemmani Siththupatha cemetery as part of the ongoing archaeological investigation into the mass burial site.
The excavation, now in its 103rd day, has yielded a total of 539 human skeletons to date. The operation is being overseen by Jaffna Magistrate C. Lenin Kumar and involves a multidisciplinary team comprising Professor of Archaeology Raj Somadeva, Judicial Medical Officer Selliah Pranavan, forensic medical officers, and police personnel. University of Jaffna students and Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha staff are also participating in the excavation effort.
The recovered amulet and coin are expected to be subject to further examination as part of the broader judicial and forensic investigations into the mass grave. Such personal items found with remains can potentially provide investigators with leads regarding the identities of the deceased and circumstances surrounding the burial site.
