Sealed Roman sarcophagus opened in Budapest

"A massive Roman limestone sarcophagus found still sealed in Budapest has been opened revealing the skeletal remains of a woman and dozens of valuable grave goods, including intact glass vessels, an amber gemstone and 140 coins. It dates to the 4th century, a period when people often reused old sarcophagi, but this one was made specifically for the deceased. The sarcophagus was discovered in an excavation of the Obuda district, the site of the ancient city of Aquincum."

"It was made the capital of the imperial province of Pannonia Inferior in 103 A.D., and by the end of the 2nd century had grown to a city of 30,000 with public baths, an aqueduct, two amphitheaters, temples and sanctuaries, extensive industry (pottery making, metalwork, fabric dying, food production), the governor's palace and other luxury domiciles for wealthy residents and city officials."

A sealed Roman limestone sarcophagus from the Obuda district of ancient Aquincum contained the skeletal remains of a woman and numerous valuable grave goods, including intact glass vessels, an amber gemstone and 140 coins. The coffin dates to the 4th century and was made specifically for the deceased rather than reused. The sarcophagus’ size and contents indicate elite status. It lay among houses abandoned in the 3rd century that became a burial ground, with eight other graves nearby but none as elaborate. The lid remained clamped with iron brackets and molten lead and the coffin was undisturbed until archaeologists lifted the lid and began excavation.

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