“An ancient lead coffin has been unearthed in a previously undiscovered, 1,600-year-old Leeds cemetery which could help unlock the secrets of one of the most significant periods in British history.
The once-in-a-lifetime find, thought to contain the remains of a late-Roman aristocratic woman, was discovered as part of an archaeological dig near Garforth in Leeds, which also revealed the remains of more than 60 men, women and children who lived in the area more than a thousand years ago.
Those buried with her in the cemetery are believed to include both late-Roman and early-Saxon people, with the burial customs of both cultures found in different graves.
Archaeologists hope this means the site can help them chart the largely undocumented and hugely important transition between the fall of the Roman Empire in around 400AD and the establishment of the famed Anglo-Saxon kingdoms which followed.
Now the dig is complete, expert analysis of the remains will take place, including carbon dating to establish precise timeframes as well as detailed chemical tests which can determine extraordinary details such as individual diets and ancestry.
The discovery was made last spring, and could only be revealed now because of the need to keep the site safe and so initial tests on finds could take place.
Although the exact location remains confidential, the excavation was in part prompted by the previous, nearby discovery of late Roman stone buildings and a small number of Anglo-Saxon style structures.”—”Historic Leeds cemetery discovery unearths secrets of ancient Britain”
Imma go out on a limb and say, maybe don’t let whatever was buried in a lead lined coffin out? I’ve seen that movie, and know how it ends.
Also
“Remains of Roman aristocrat unearthed in ‘extraordinary’ cemetery near Leeds. Archaeologists hail ‘once in a lifetime’ discovery of Roman and Saxon site dating back 1,600 years”
“Archaeologists make ‘once in a lifetime’ find as they unearth Roman cemetery in Leeds. There is thought to be remains of both Roman and Saxon people buried at the site near Garforth”
“Skeletal remains of Roman aristocrat discovered in hidden lead coffin.”