The excavation, only a few kilometres from the centre of the south-eastern city of Lappeenranta has uncovered human bones which are thought to be from at least two individuals.
The dig is aimed at determining if the site was used to secretly bury deserters from the front lines executed during the Second World War. There is no written documentation of such executions, but local rumours have circulated concerning a mass grave for over sixty years.
The bones, 15 -20 of them were uncovered in two different areas. Researchers say that it is possible that they are from bodies buried in the 20th century, but further analysis is needed. Some remains of military uniforms have also been recovered.
In 1971 skeletons were found at the site, which according to local news reports at the time, were reinterred in a cemetery. Again, however, there is no written record of the remains or of the reburial.
The excavations are being carried out by Helsinki University's Institute for Cultural Research and Department of Forensic Medicine. The work is financed by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.