Spanish archaeologists, while conducting prospecting work on the site of the restoration of a building in Granada, unexpectedly discovered a lead Roman sarcophagus, 1800-1900 years old.
According to El Pais, archaeologists were extremely surprised to find such a Roman coffin during restoration work in Andalusia. The burial was under a building in Granada, which is being prepared for restoration.
The lead sarcophagus weighs about 350 kg. He was found 2.5 meters under the slab. For Angel Rodriguez, a leading archaeologist, the discovery came as little surprise at first. Under the slab, it was expected to find the burial of Christians or the emirate of the Nasrid dynasty.
However, it turned out to be a Roman tomb. The coffin is tentatively dated to the 2nd-3rd centuries AD. At that time, lead sarcophagi were not yet widespread. In addition, for Andalusia, they were very expensive and difficult to obtain.
Industry at that time existed only in Cordoba, 200 kilometers from Granada. Lead sarcophagi were made only in Cordoba. This suggests that the grave was arranged by a very wealthy family.
As for the coffin itself, it has classic dimensions: 1.97 meters long and 40 centimeters high. It is slightly wider at the head (56 centimeters) than at the legs (36 centimeters).
On the first inspection, no inscriptions were found on the surface of the sarcophagus. However, it is covered with a layer of clay and sand that has yet to be carefully removed. Scientists are still afraid to open the sarcophagus. It is now in the archaeological museum.
An interdepartmental team of anthropologists, archaeologists and restorers will be created for the autopsy. The sarcophagus may contain well-preserved ones, which is typical for lead coffins, the remains and remains of ritual objects.
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"The objects inside it are unlikely to be valuable from a material point of view, since the real jewelry was left for the living," says Rodriguez.
Denis Peredelsky
