Excavation has begun at the site of a former Catholic-run home for unwed mothers in Tuam, where authorities believe the remains of 796 babies and children lie in a disused septic tank, the New York Post reported.

The Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home operated from 1925 to 1961, separating mothers from their newborns, many of whom died from neglect and malnutrition.

Historian Catherine Corless uncovered records showing only two were buried in a cemetery.

The forensic investigation, expected to take two years, aims to identify remains and provide dignified reburials. The site remained untouched after the home’s demolition in 1971.

Read more at The New York Post.