Visitors to the English city of Bath may be aware of the long history of Sydney Gardens, a lush space that was a longtime favorite destination of Jane Austen. In 2019, a plan to renovate the gardens was announced. While those renovations were underway, a group of archaeologists discovered something unexpected on the grounds — something which hearkens back to a much earlier period in England’s history.
Writing at ARTnews, Jesse Holth has news of the discovery — a sarcophagus dating back to the period when England was under Roman rule. “The sarcophagus, made of limestone from the region, held two sets of human remains with one partial skeleton laying at the other’s feet, and faced north, indicating it was likely a pagan burial,” Holth writes.
Currently, the local government’s plan is to analyze the two skeletons, then re-inter the bodies. The sarcophagus itself might remain above ground, in a specially-designed display helping to spotlight the area’s history.
The excavation was carried out by L-P Archaeology, who became involved in the renovation efforts once an ancient Roman wall was uncovered during the process. “Having a human skeleton directly associated with a coffin is a rarity and to have this one associated with a probable votive offering and nearby human cremation, allows a very rare glimpse into funerary practices in the region almost two millennia ago,” said Kelly Madigan, a partner at the firm.
It’s a fascinating glimpse into the region’s history — and it’s one that may reveal even more about a bygone time for Bath.
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