Prague archaeological dig fails to find remains of Communist resistor Zdena Mašínová

Archaeologists say an excavation at notorious mass grave at Prague’s Ďáblice cemetery has failed to uncover the remains of Zdena Mašínová, a WWII resister whose family left a deep mark on modern Czech history.

Mašínová’s sons Josef and Ctirad Mašín resisted the Communists and escaped to the West in 1953 despite a massive manhunt, killing several East German policemen. After she died in a Communist jail in 1956, her remains were dumped in the mass grave.

Her daughter, also known as Zdena Mašínová, had initiated the excavation, which took place in a spot where two witnesses had said she was buried. The remains of two adults were found at the site, along with those of babies and foetuses.