The intact sarcophagus of a boy from the Roman era discovered in Romania: what they found inside

An archaeological discovery in Romania aroused the interest of researchers because of its extraordinary state of conservation. Specialists from the Museum of National History and Archaeology in Constance found an intact Roman sarcophagus that would have belonged to a small child, accompanied by a series of objects that allow us to know what the funerary rituals of the time were like

.

The discovery occurred at the northern end of the necropolis of the ancient city of Tomis, a settlement located on the Black Sea coast. According to the museum, the funerary structure appeared approximately 1.5 kilometers from the center of the ancient city, near a road that formerly connected Tomis to the fortress of

Histria.

The location especially attracted the attention of specialists, as it could help to determine how far the burial areas extended and how the graves were organized along the main communication routes.

However, what surprised archaeologists the most was the contents of the sarcophagus. Inside, they found remains of a wooden coffin, clay toys and various personal items that would have accompanied the boy during

his burial.

What they found inside the Roman sarcophagus discovered in Romania

One of the most important aspects of the discovery was the state of preservation of the wood in the coffin, a material that tends to deteriorate

over time.

“The wood of the coffin has been preserved in an exceptionally good state, allowing us to study the carpentry and assembly techniques used by ancient artisans,” explained representatives of the Constanta Museum of National History and Archaeology.

In addition, the researchers identified different objects that were part of the grave goods, that is, the belongings deposited with the deceased person as part of the burial practices.

Among the recovered items were a coin, flower garlands, two clay toys and two pendants known as bulla

.

In ancient Roman society, bullas were amulets that fulfilled a protective function and could be linked to the status of Roman citizen. His presence inside the tomb represents an important piece for studying the beliefs and traditions of that community.

However, one of the most striking objects was a clay toy shaped like a rooster, which contained small elements capable of producing a sound similar to that of a rattle.

According to archaeologists, this characteristic constitutes a relevant clue as to the age of the deceased, since it suggests that he was a very young child