Eighteen human skeletons found on Dagestan beach, where they may have been buried in 1930s

Human remains were found on a Caspian Sea beach in Makhachkala, Dagestan, the Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti reported on Monday, citing local law enforcement.

The republic’s Investigative Committee told RFE/RL’s North Caucasus service, Kavkaz.Realii, that 18 human skeletons were found on the beach during the course of construction work. “Presumably, these are remains from the 1930s,” the agency said in a statement.

Local authorities have reportedly opened an investigation into the findings.

The local Telegram channel Online Dagestan published a photo of the skeletons and reported that some of the skulls had holes in them.