Beneath Budapest, archaeologists have discovered a remarkably well-preserved Roman sarcophagus that is 1,700 years old. This offers a window into the life of the young woman inside and the world she lived in.
The limestone coffin
was discovered during an excavation in a northern district of the city that
once was part of a bustling Roman settlement on the Danube frontier. The
sarcophagus was untouched by looters and the stone lid sealed by metal clamps
and molten lead. Inside was a complete skeleton surrounded by artifacts.
The coffin was among
the ruins of houses vacated in the 3rd century. The area was later
repurposed as a burial ground. The researchers also uncovered a Roman aqueduct
and 8 simpler graves.
This sarcophagus held
many objects, including two intact glass vessels, bronze figures, and 140
coins. Artifacts that indicated the grave belonged to a young woman were a bone
hairpin, amber jewelry, and traces of gold-threaded fabric.
During Roman times,
much of Hungary formed the province of Pannonia. This frontier ran along the
right bank of the Danube River less than a mile from the excavation site.
Nearby was a legionary camp meant to guard the empire’s border. The newly found
structure were probably part of a civilian settlement that grew around the
camp.
Anthropologists will
examine the young woman’s remains to reveal more about her age, health, and
origins. But the grave’s placement and artifacts offer clues. The coffin and
its contents probably means the deceased was well-to-do and/or of a high social
status. During the 4th century, it was a common practice to reuse earlier
sarcophagi, but this coffin was made specifically for the woman who lay within.
A layer of mud about
1.5 inches thick was removed from inside the coffin and could contain more
treasures, such as earrings or other jewelry.
The care and artifacts
involved in the burial of this young woman give an indication of how much she
was loved.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/archaeologists-lift-the-lid-on-a-1-700-year-old-roman-sarcophagus-hidden-beneath-budapest/ar-AA1R3JbA?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=6925e0b54aa545f1a3e6fc8f7416ef8d&ei=55
