Mystery of Roman sarcophagus unearthed at Westminster Abbey solved at last, expert says
Summary
A Roman stone coffin with a skeleton inside was found at Westminster Abbey. Researchers now believe the bones belong to a medieval abbot from around the 10th or 11th century, based on new studies and historic clues.Key Facts
- The sarcophagus, made of limestone, dates back to the late Roman period and has a Latin inscription for Valerius Amandinus.
- It was first found in 1820 and officially dug up in 1869 near Westminster Abbey.
- No Roman artifacts were found nearby, suggesting the coffin was moved from its original place.
- The coffin’s lid has a large cross carved during the late Anglo-Saxon period, showing it was reused.
- In 2018, experts opened the coffin and confirmed the skeleton inside matched earlier descriptions.
- Radiocarbon dating shows the bones are from the late 900s to early 1000s AD.
- The skeleton likely belonged to a high-ranking church official, possibly Abbot Ælfwig or Abbot Wulfnoth.
- The sarcophagus was probably buried again during building work in the 1200s.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
