Exhumations under the Galicia 2026 Democratic Memory Plan begin

 

Last September, the Xunta de Galicia and the University of Santiago signed the agreement setting out the Galicia 2026 Democratic Memory Plan.

 

Once again, HISTAGRA is leading a team comprising historians, archaeologists, a forensic anthropologist and geneticists, whose task is to carry out the exhumation and identification of mass graves from the Francoist era in Galicia.

 

The four-year Plan for Democratic Memory, which underpins this work, comprises three fundamental strategic lines of public policy on Democratic Memory intended to be developed over the period (2025–2028), although its objectives are subject to annual review. These strategic lines are:

- Locating and exhuming mass graves and identifying victims.

- Dissemination of the work carried out and the results achieved.

- Recognition of burial sites and promotion of places of remembrance

The work for 2026 will begin tomorrow, Wednesday 4 November, at the Santa María de Castro cemetery in Miño (A Coruña)

 

For the year 2026, the work to be carried out is as follows:

 

Ribeiras de Sor mass grave (Mañón). This involves continuing the work undertaken in 2025, when the historical study was carried out.

 

Luou/Ribeira mass grave (Teo). This involves continuing the work carried out in 2025 at the Luou cemetery (Teo). On this occasion, this will involve the exhumation of a presumed fam

Mass grave at San Pedro de Filgueira de Trabanca (Oza-Cesuras): This is a mass grave containing 2 victims

Mass grave at Santa María do Castro (Miño). This is a mass grave containing 2 victims

 

Mass grave at San Francisco (Ourense). An in-depth study of the site and the victims is required to enable a more accurate catalogue of the various mass graves in this area

San Vicenzo de Vilameá (A Pontenova) mass grave. This is a mass grave containing four victims

 

Pontevedra/A Estrada (Pontevedra) mass grave. This is a mass grave containing one victim

 

In accordance with the budget allocation criteria agreed at the meeting of 24 April 2026 of the Territorial Council for Democratic Memory, the Xunta de Galicia is allocated a final sum of €97,811.81 for 2026.