Two days ago an announcement was made that construction workers building the foundations of a new bridge over the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary, had uncovered an ancient burial chamber with researchers claiming that it belonged to the infamous Attila the Hun, one of the most feared enemies of the Western and Eastern Roman Empires in the 5 th century AD. Word of the disovery quickly spread around the internet, however, it now appears that the story was nothing more than a hoax.

The so-called burial chamber, which historian Albrecht Rümschtein from the Lorand Eötvös University in Budapest described as “absolutely incredible”, was said to contain human remains, many horse skeletons, a large sword made of meteoric iron, pottery, jewellery, and other weapons and grave goods traditionally associated with the Huns, all pointing to the tomb being the resting place of a great Hunnic leader.

The historian was reported as saying, “This definitely seems to be the resting place of the almighty Attila, but further analysis needs to be done to confirm it.” However, it appears that there is no Albrecht Rümschtein from the Lorand Eötvös University and the whole account was a dismal attempt to gain publicity. Evidence comes from the image the originating source published. Far from being the remains of Attila, this mummy originates from the Ming Dynasty in China .

Hoax image published by World News Daily Report

The Huns were a group of Eurasian nomads, appearing from east of the Volga, who migrated into Europe around 370 AD and built up an enormous empire there. They were highly skilled at mounted archery, as depicted in the featured image. It is suggested that they were the descendants of the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China three hundred years before. Attila was ruler of the Huns (434 – 453 AD) and leader of the Hunnic Empire, which stretched from the Ural River to the Rhine River and from the Danube River to the Baltic Sea.

Attila led many military raids on both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires provoking what has become known as the Barbarian Invasions, a large movement of Germanic populations that greatly accelerated the fall of Rome. He is considered by most Hungarians as the founder of the country.

According to ancient records, Attila died in his palace across the Danube after a feast celebrating his marriage to a beautiful young gothic princess named Ildico. Legend says that his men diverted a section of a river, buried the coffin under the riverbed, and were then killed to keep the exact location a secret.

It would have been a fantastic finding if Attila the Hun really had been found. The discovery of his funerary site could bring many clarifications concerning the origins and identity of the Hunnic people and of Attila himself, which have both been sources of debate for centuries. Sadly, the originating website have used this desire for knowledge to mislead and misinform people.

Featured image: Depiction of Attila the Hun. Artwork by Miguel Coimbra

By April Holloway