Ancient Roman tombstone found under parking lot

[Borgholio]

Given the bad news about ISIS destroying artifacts today, I figured some positive archeological news would be a good thing.

http://www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/ex ... rencester/

An incredibly rare Roman tombstone was found still in place on the site of former Bridges Garage in Cirencester. The tombstone, found lying on its front, was lifted this morning and turned over live on the BBC to reveal fine decoration and five lines of inscription in Roman ‘D.M. BODICACIA CONIUNX VIXIT ANNO S XXVII’.

The pre-eminent Roman specialist Dr Richard Reece was on hand at the site to translate the inscription, and revealed it read ‘In memory of Bodicia. Wife. Lived 27 years’.

CA’s Chief Executive Neil Holbrook said it was amazing the tombstone had survived “When they built the garage in the 1960s they scraped across the top of the stone to put a beam in. If they’d gone a couple of inches lower they’d have smashed it to smithereens.”

Amanda Hart, Director of the Corinium Museum, was especially pleased with the find, as she is giving a talk on Roman women in Cirencester at the Museum on 10 March.
- See more at: http://www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/ex ... Tv1uM.dpuf

[Thanas]

I moved it to the correct forum.

But:

An incredibly rare Roman tombstone

Uh....no? It is not unusual, nor is the inscription that important. This is the basic roman tombstone of lesser quality you find in tens of thousands of cases.

Given that Cincester was a roman settlement (Corinium Dobunnorum) that grew out of a Roman fort, not finding dozens of these would be the unsual one. This looks more like some PR-savvy museum people trying to get access to funding or making them look good by tryng to make a mundane discovery look like something rare or important. But in the context of ancient archeology, this is pretty much routine.

[Borgholio]

Ah ok, thanks for the clarification. Still, at least we can be confident this artifact will be properly cared for.

[Thanas]

Ah ok, thanks for the clarification. Still, at least we can be confident this artifact will be properly cared for.

Yes, but in all likelihood (unless they lack a good collection already, which given that it is Cincester I find hard to believe) it will not be even exhibited but go straight into storage. Honestly, there are probably at least 60k of similar pieces around.

Though much better than leaving it in the rain, like some nations even in Europe do (say, Hungary, which leaves precious and gorgeous sarcophagi which dwarf this simple tombstone in the open).

[Borgholio]

Hungary, which leaves precious and gorgeous sarcophagi which dwarf this simple tombstone in the open

Are they too big to move or do they simply not care enough to protect them?

[Thanas]

Hungary, which leaves precious and gorgeous sarcophagi which dwarf this simple tombstone in the open

Are they too big to move or do they simply not care enough to protect them?

No, you can move them. But they simply do not have the money to build housing and shelter for them. Same as in most southern and eastern european countries.

[Dartzap]

If there is one thing that can be said of building sites in Britain, it is that you will inevitably find some ancient relic or a great crested newt.

[Dalton]

Why is this in Announcements?

[Thanas]

Nobody knows, it is in history.

[Thanas]

eh...this thread seems to be duplicating itself. My post in history is now showing up here...and this post is made from the announcements forum.

[Dalton]

Probably a function of the new board software - announcements in other forums are automatically shadowed in Announcements (maybe).

EDIT: I removed the shadow topic from Announcements. Carry on.