Archaeologists open Roman sarcophagus sealed with lead in Budapest

Archaeologists from the Historical Museum of Budapest opened a Roman sarcophagus in the Óbudi district of Budapest, Hungary, finding the remains of a young woman and numerous artifacts.

The limestone coffin had remained hermetically sealed for approximately 1,700 years because its lid was secured with metal joints and molten lead. This seal prevented looters from accessing the site until researchers used heavy machinery to lift the lid last autumn.

The discovery occurred in Aquincum, a Roman settlement located near the Danube River. The sarcophagus was found among the ruins of houses in a section of the city abandoned in the 3rd century, which later served as a cemetery. Researchers found the coffin near the remains of a Roman aqueduct and eight other simpler graves. The site is located less than 1.6 kilometers from the Danube border of the Roman province of Pannonia.

Inside the coffin, experts found the skeleton of a young woman accompanied by glass vessels, bronze figurines, a bone hairpin, amber jewelry, and traces of fabric with gold threads. The team also recovered 140 coins. Project supervisor Gergely Kostyál noted that because the sarcophagus was custom-made for the deceased rather than reused, the woman likely held a high social status or wealth.

Gabriella Fényes, the archaeologist who led the excavation, stated that the included objects were gifts from relatives for the woman's journey. Anthropologists are currently examining the bones to determine the woman's age, health, and origins. Researchers also extracted about four centimeters of mud from the interior to search for smaller items, such as earrings, which have not yet been found.