Gaius Paulinus Maximus Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 Two Roman stone sarcophagi have been uncovered at a dig on the site of a former chapel and office buildings. The discovery of the 1,800-year-old sandstone coffins in Newcastle city centre are the first such find - and arguably the most impressive - in the area for more than 100 years. They are thought to have been used to bury members of a rich and powerful family from the adjacent, walled fort of Pons Aelius, whose West Gate would have been sited just yards away. Hadrian's Wall would have run to the north of the fort. The lid of one sarcophagus will be lifted by Durham University experts tomorrow morning to discover what it holds inside. http://www.24dash.com/news/Communities/200...tle-city-centre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludovicus Posted August 14, 2008 Report Share Posted August 14, 2008 What suspense! Please let us know what they find in the stone coffin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melvadius Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 What suspense! Please let us know what they find in the stone coffin. The BBC have just posted a video from the opening of the second coffin: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7563141.stm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLavius Valerius Constantinus Posted August 15, 2008 Report Share Posted August 15, 2008 Honestly, it's gotta be creepy for Archaelogists to burial works especially when there are remains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludovicus Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 Thanks for the link! Please keep us abreast of this find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldrail Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 (edited) According to the Daily Express, Aug 16th.... Teeth Clue To Roman Burial A coffin opened yesterday fter 1,700 years revealed the decayed remains of a middle-aged person who lived in Britain at the end of the roman occupation. Water had seeped into the sandstone coffin over the years and only the teeth were intact under a lyaer of sludge. It is believed the remains were that of the father or mother of a six-year old child found in a scond coffin unearthed in building site in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Richard Annis, of Durham University said "They would certainly have had to belong to a wealthy family of high status in the community, perhaps at fort commander level or at a senior level in the roman army manning Hadrians Wall. Very few people could have afforded to bury their dead in such a grand fashion." Edited August 17, 2008 by caldrail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maladict Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 Honestly, it's gotta be creepy for Archaelogists to burial works especially when there are remains. I've never had any problems with it, no has any other archaeologist I know. Bones are just like any other find category really. Except perhaps recent burials, like the archaeologists digging up the mass graves in the Yugoslav republics. Hugely rewarding on the one hand, but quite possibly much too close for comfort. It takes a certain type of professional to handle those projects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.