The isolated site that was recaptured recently by elite interior ministry forces down a dirt track outside the village of Tal Adh-Dhahab, some 10 kilometres (6 miles) south of Mosul.

Bone fragments were scattered around the location along with scraps of clothing including a man’s headdress, ripped trousers and a flip-flop.

The stench was overpowering and several bullet casings could be seen.

Earth was piled in metre-high mounds at the entrance to the shallow pit, located behind a small sand-covered hill.

An officer from the interior ministry forces said local residents reported an estimated 40 people could be buried at the site, which ISIS allegedly used as an execution ground.

“The majority of them were members of the security forces, army and police,” Lieutenant told.

“They brought them by pickup trucks they were around 40 people according to eyewitnesses who saw them,” he said.

Iraqi security forces have discovered several ISIS mass graves in areas that they have taken back from the group.

Authorities are investigating a mass grave found last week in the town of Hamam al-Alil to the southwest of the newly discovered site.

Human Rights Watch said local residents have said the grave in Hamam al-Alil could contain some 300 bodies.

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