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Roman leaden coffin found in Bethnal-Green, 1862. Creator: Unknown
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Roman leaden coffin found in Bethnal-Green, 1862. Creator: Unknown
Roman leaden coffin found in Bethnal-Green, [east London], 1862. As Mr. Buckmaster, weaver...was digging in a corner of his garden...he uncovered a leaden coffin about 4ft. from the surface. In endeavouring to lift the lid he broke off almost a third part of it. The coffin was nearly filled with lime, through which a portion of a human skeleton appeared. Mr. Rolfe...says that the contents had been greatly disturbed before he saw it, but from the lid alone he declared it to be Roman. The sides are plain, the ends have a well-known ornament on Roman coffins, an X, and on each side an I...Instead of the usual cord, or bead and two-line pattern, generally seen on Roman coffins, the double lines in this example are joined by curves turned inward, having the appearance of the spinal column of some fish, or a close-jointed bamboo. The left upper limb of the cross alone has three lines between the curves. There is no other further ornament beyond a border of the same pattern around the overlapping lid...The weight is estimated at 4 cwt. There was an outer coffin of oak. In the accompanying Engraving are shown two hairpins (one half the natural size) made of jet, which were taken from the coffin, and a broken nail which was extracted from the oaken coffin'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862
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Media ID 35122791
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Archaeological Artefacts Artifacts Coffin Coffins Excavation Excavations Find Lead Nail Nails Ancient Roman Illustrated London News White And Black
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In the heart of east London, in the Bethnal-Green area, during the year 1862, an extraordinary archaeological discovery was unearthed. Mr. Buckmaster, a local weaver, was working in his garden when he stumbled upon a leaden coffin, approximately 4 feet beneath the surface. In his attempt to lift the lid, he inadvertently broke off a third of it. The coffin was found to be filled with lime, within which the remains of a human skeleton were visible. Upon examination by Mr. Rolfe, a local antiquarian, the coffin was identified as Roman due to its lid design. The sides were plain, while the ends bore the distinctive Roman ornament of an X, with an I on each side. Instead of the typical cord or bead and two-line pattern seen on Roman coffins, this example featured double lines joined by curves that resembled the spinal column of a fish or a close-jointed bamboo. The left upper limb of the cross had only three lines between the curves. The lid was further adorned with a border of the same pattern. The weight of the leaden coffin was estimated to be around 4 hundredweight (cwt). An outer coffin made of oak was also discovered, which contained two jet hairpins, one of which is shown in the engraving at half its natural size, and a broken nail. The intriguing find was a testament to the rich history that lay hidden beneath the streets of Bethnal-Green, offering a glimpse into the Roman past that had long since been forgotten.
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