Croatian investigation teams have uncovered a new mass grave inside Golubinka Cave, located on Sopaњ Hill in the municipality of Tisno, in Šibenik-Knin County. The site contains human remains believed to belong to victims from the Second World War and the immediate post-war period.
The location was visited by Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Croatian Veterans, Tomo Medved, together with senior representatives of regional authorities, police, the military and speleology experts involved in the excavation process.
According to the authorities, the remains of 18 people have so far been recovered from a depth of around 16 metres. Initial examinations suggest that most of the victims were young adults in their twenties. Among the remains, experts have identified at least three women and one boy believed to have been around 14 years old.
Investigators also found traces of weapons at the site, raising the possibility that some of the victims were executed before being thrown into the cave. However, early forensic findings indicate that many of them may have died from injuries caused by a fall from a significant height, suggesting that some victims could have been thrown into the pit while still alive.
The discovery adds another tragic chapter to Croatia’s efforts to investigate unresolved wartime and post-war crimes. Further forensic analysis is expected to determine more details about the identities of the victims, the circumstances of their deaths and the historical context of the mass grave.
