Roopkund Lake, situated at an altitude of 16,470 ft in Uttarakhand, India, is a renowned trekking destination known for the mystery of hundreds of ancient skeletons found within its waters
In 2003, a National Geographic team found about 30 skeletons with remnants of flesh in Roopkund Lake, intriguing scientists and historians
Discovered in 1942 by Hari Kishan Madhwa, initial theories of World War II casualties were later debunked, indicating bones have much older origins
Alongside the skeletons, items such as iron spearheads, wooden artifacts, rings, and leather slippers were found, suggesting a historical context to the site
Local legends link skeletons to the retinue of the King of Kannauj or Indian soldiers from an 1841 Tibet invasion
Some theories propose that Roopkund Lake served as a mass burial site for epidemic victims, supported by local folklore involving a divine retribution hailstorm by Goddess Nanda Devi
Over 300 skeletons have been studied, with findings from the 1950s by the Anthropological Survey of India indicating head injuries consistent with death by hailstorm
Recent studies involving genetic analysis and carbon dating of 38 skeletons reveal a diverse origin and time of death, spanning over 1,000 years, challenging the single-event death theory
Genetic and carbon dating evidence shows that the skeletons belong to individuals of South Asian and Eastern Mediterranean descent, including people from mainland Greece and Crete
Some skeletons, dating back roughly 1,200 years, suggest gradual deposition, while others from the Mediterranean hint at a single event