When researchers in Barcelona recently opened centuries-old royal tombs, they uncovered a startling mystery: Several contained the wrong people.The exhumations took place at the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes in Barcelona, Spain, a nearly 700-year-old Gothic monastery founded by Queen Elisenda of Montcada.The wife of King James II of Aragon, Elisenda founded the monastery in 1326 — and to mark its 700th anniversary, researchers wrapped up a multidisciplinary investigation into its medieval tombs.HIDDEN UNDERGROUND CHAMBER REVEALED BENEATH HOME OF LEGENDARY ROMAN EMPERORLocal officials have now shared the first results of a three-year excavation and research project, which produced several unexpected discoveries.They found that many of the remains did not belong to the people assigned to the tombs.The Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes was founded in 1326 by Queen Elisenda of Montcada, depicted at right, and remains an important historical site.(Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes; Institut de Cultura de Barcelona (ICUB); PHAS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)"One of the project's most significant findings is that the opening of several tombs showed that the identities historically assigned to them do not necessarily correspond with the remains found inside," the release noted, which was translated from Catalan."In the tomb of Artau de Foces, researchers found no male individual.
Instead, they discovered the remains of five people: two adult women and three children."The sheer number of skeletons found was surprising, said Enric Puga, communications officer for the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes.1,740-YEAR-OLD ROMAN COIN BEARING EMPEROR'S NAME FOUND AS ENGLAND RAIL DIG REVEALS CLUESPuga told Fox News Digital that researchers were not expecting to find the remains of 25 people in eight tombs — and were even more surprised to find over 200 archaeological samples, including funerary offerings and preserved plants."Th...