A 15th-century Jewish cemetery in the Czech Republic was found on the site where a shopping mall parking lot was slated to be built by an Israeli firm.

Last month, a preservation organization declared that the cemetery was on the spot of construction in Pilsen according to archival documents.

Now, researchers from the West Bohemian Museum have confirmed that several graves are on the site.

No graves have been unearthed or moved. The museum estimates that as many as 50 graves may be located on the site.

Plaza Centers, the Israeli builder of the multimillion dollar project that was set to begin construction on the site in April, is negotiating with local and foreign religious authorities to seek a solution that would allow construction to continue.

The firm, however, has publicly stated it will comply with any religious rulings, which may halt construction.

A meeting with international rabbinical consultants is scheduled for Nov. 15.

JTA