Roman Gaul Child and Pet Remains Found

[guy]

 

Another great but poignant find of a young child and a pet. This one was from first century AD  Roman Gaul.

 

 

Quote

The child, believed to have been around a year old, was interred at the beginning of the first century, during Roman rule, in a wooden coffin 80cm long made with nails and marked with a decorative iron tag.  The coffin was placed in a 2 metre by 1 metre grave and surrounded by around 20 objects including a number of miniature terracotta vases and glass pots thought to have contained oils and medicines, half a pig, three hams and other cuts of pork, and two headless chickens.  The burial tomb was uncovered during a dig at a site at Clermont-Ferrand airport, in central France.   The young animal was wearing a collar with bronze decorations and fitted with a small bell.  Those at the dig said they were particularly moved to find a milk tooth belonging to an older child, who may have been a sibling of the infant, placed on a fragment of broken shell.  Adults were usually cremated in Roman Gaul, which included what is now modern France, Belgium and parts of neighbouring countries, but children were often buried at the family property, suggesting a sizeable villa existed nearby.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/15/2000-year-old-remains-of-infant-and-pet-dog-uncovered-in-france

 

Summary: This was a very poignant find. Hopefully many new secrets of ancient Rome will be uncovered soon.

 

guy also known as gaius