Archaeologists who have been looking into an incredible Roman lead coffin cake across a fascinating discovery of previously unknown remains of a human child.
Roman Lead Coffin
The Roman lead coffin, which is believed to be from over 1,600 years ago, was unearthed during 2022 excavations at an area situated in the Leeds metropolitan district. This city is situated in West Yorkshire county in northern England.
The excavations were conducted by experts from the West Yorkshire Archaeological Services. Initially, these experts identified the coffin remains to be that of a woman who was 25 to 35 years old by her time of death. The woman was buried wearing a glass bead necklace, bracelet, and an earring or finger ring. She was thought to have had high status. She could have even been an aristocrat back when Rome occupied Britain.
Previously Unknown Human Child Remains
However, further bone analysis within the coffin found an unknown child's partial remains. The child may have been 10 years of age by the time of their death. Such remains have gone unnoticed until recently.
The child's remains were not initially identified due to how fragmented and old the coffin bones were. This implied that it would be hard for experts to differentiate two people until further testing was performed.
Start Robinson, the Leeds City Council's spokesperson, explains that for this case, the child's remains were very partial. Hence, there was nothing initially obvious that suggested that the coffin contained more than one person. This was until the bones underwent further analysis.
The spokesperson continues that the child's identity and relationship with the Roman woman remains a mystery. However, it is known that the burials happened in roughly the same period. This has, thus, raised questions regarding late Roman burial practices within Britain.
Rare Findings
Such findings are quite rare. In fact, the Roman lead coffin is the first one to be found within West Yorkshire. This is according to Kat Baxter, the archaeology curator from Leeds Museums and Galleries.
Baxter explains that the finding is truly remarkable and unique. It may also have potentially great implications for understanding early Leeds' history and those who used to dwell in the area. The discovery of the child's remains is also interesting as it raises questions regarding people from over 1,600 years ago used to treat their dead.
Along with its fragile lid, the coffin is being stabilized and conserved ahead of plans for public display. It will be shown in the Leeds City Museum as part of an exhibition known as "Living With Death." This exhibit will open on May 3 and explore how cultures all over the world approach bereavement, dying, and death.
Aside from the coffin, archaeologists were also able to unearth the remains of over 60 children, men, and women during the excavations in 2022. The remains date back to the early medieval and late Roman periods.
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