Skeletal remains of Roman aristocrat discovered in hidden lead coffin
CTV
The remains of a Roman aristocrat have been unearthed by archaeologists in northern England. The skeleton of the unidentified woman, believed to be more than 1,000 years old, was found in a lead coffin in a hidden cemetery in the city of Leeds last year.
The remains of a Roman aristocrat have been unearthed by archaeologists in northern England.
The skeleton of the unidentified woman, believed to be more than 1,000 years old, was found in a lead coffin in a hidden cemetery in the city of Leeds last year.
The remains of 62 people were dug up at the previously unknown archaeological site near Garforth. Men, women and 23 children were buried at the site uncovered by a team of archaeologists.
The dead are thought to include people from both the late Roman and early Saxon era, as burial customs of both eras were found in the graves, according to a press release published by Leeds City Council Monday.
David Hunter, principle archaeologist with West Yorkshire Joint Services, said Monday that the discovery emerged after a commercial developer submitted an application for planning permission to the council.
An archaeological survey of the site -- the exact location of which hasn't been released -- led to the remains being found last spring.
"We certainly got more than we bargained for," Hunter said. He said his team had reason to believe that the site might be of archaeological interest, as they'd found Roman and Anglo-Saxon structures nearby on previous digs. "But we didn't expect to find a cemetery of 62 at this location," he added.
