The lid has today been lifted on the second of two Roman sarcophagi discovered on Forth Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, revealing bones and teeth from an adult burial.
On opening the first sarcophagus yesterday, a child’s headless skeleton was discovered alongside the bones of an adult. The child is thought to have died aged 6 years old.
The head of the child may have been buried separately in the sarcophagus - this was an uncommon but not unheard of practice. The adult bones are thought to have been added to the coffin at a later date because the lid on this sarcophagus was not firmly sealed.
Archaeologists working on the second sarcophagus spent yesterday sawing through iron pegs that were still set in the side of the as yet unopened coffin. These were also fixed in place with lead. Today, despite the sodden conditions left after torrential rain, the sarcophagus could be opened.
Commenting from the site on the discovery of the two sarcophagi, Richard Annis, Project Manager with Archaeological Services at Durham University who are running the dig, said: “It’s a cracking find. It’s really pleasing just in practical terms with the difficulties of the rain. It’s been like Paschendale here recently. A tribute should be paid to the team. They’ve done a fantastic job dealing with it.”
The remains are poorly preserved, as were those in the first sarcophagus. Richard described what they were finding: “It’s full of water and a layer of fine clay. It’s not been sealed. It had a gap around the edge of the lid so groundwater has got in but we have got some bones and adult teeth. These are at the west end.” This indicates an east-west Christian burial.
The two 1,800-year-old sandstone coffins each weigh at least half a tonne and were carved out of single sandstone blocks. They measure 70 cm by 180 cm. The ‘walls’ are 10 cm thick.
Uncovered at the site of a former chapel and office building, they were discovered prior to work going ahead to build modern office buildings. In Richard’s words, the developers have been “excellent” in terms of letting the dig take place without imminent time constraints.
While previous digs near this site have revealed other burials, these recent finds are thought to be the most impressive discovered in the area in the last 100 years. Previously, two other sarcophagi were unearthed at the city’s Turnball Warehouse site in 1903.
The location of this year’s discoveries – in a single pit, side-by-side, with only 18 cm between the two sarcophagi - indicates the burials were linked. The team also discovered space in the pit for a third burial. However, later development in the Forth Street area from medieval times onwards probably accounts for its absence.
Describing how the burials would have originally been situated, Richard Annis, said: “These sarcophagi would have been a prominent feature of the landscape as they were carefully placed to be viewed, being close to the road and, at the time, raised above ground."
In terms of status, the people buried in the stone coffins would have belonged to a wealthy family, probably having connections with the walled fort of Pons Aelius, part of Hadrian’s Wall. They were buried, and now unburied, a few metres from the site of the fort’s western gate.
The dig is adding to knowledge about civilian settlements associated with Roman forts. However, this site reflects the fact that in Roman times, it was unlawful to bury bodies inside settlements. Cemeteries were therefore laid out at the roadside near the gates of forts or towns.
In this case, Richard’s initial speculation is that there was an earlier Vicus or non-military settlement in the area which had disappeared by the time the burials were made.
Other burials discovered nearby are of a distinctly military nature: “We found a cremation in a pot on one side and two complete vessels very close together, within a short radius. They have all the hallmarks of Roman military burial. Cremation was a popular rite in military circles.”
While the site will eventually be built upon, plans are now being made to put in another trench. The reason for this is to determine the direction of an important Roman road in this area - the burials would indicate the presence of a routeway nearby. A cobbled road surface has been uncovered nearby increasing speculation.
“It’s a possibility that Deer Street – 'the Roman A1' - continues to this site from its crossing of the Tyne by today’s Swing Bridge. It came up the steep valley in a zigzag. We’re not certain but we think the road at this point must run east-west rather than north-south since previous excavations failed to find it.”
Finds from the excavation will be taken to Durham University for more detailed analysis.
