Builders Unearth 50 Skeletons from a Roman Burial in Britain

Some of the oldest Roman burials ever discovered in Britain have been uncovered by construction workers building a school in Somerset.

At the site in Somerton, Somerset, a total of around 50 burial sites were found and are believed to date back to the very dawn of the Roman period as far as 43AD.

Each grave contained a single body, buried at the site by both adults and children.

The new school is going to replace King Ina Junior and Infants, and archaeologists have identified the archaeological haul as ‘ significant. ‘

On the site in Somerton, Somerset, a total of 50 burial sites were discovered and are thought to date back to 43AD in the early Roman period (pictured)

 An exact date of the skeletons is unknown as they studies are still ongoing but early estimates date the remains as potentially as old as 43AD – the date of the Roman invasion of Britain

The burials included both adults and children with a smattering of valuables in the graves, including pottery and brooches.

The form of the burials was unusual and sheds lights on the transition between Iron Age and Roman society.

An exact date of the skeletons is unknown as they studies are still ongoing but early estimates date the remains as potentially as old as 43AD – the date of the Roman invasion of Britain.  

The South West Heritage Trust has overseen the excavations and archaeologist Steve Membery said: ‘This site is a significant discovery – the most comprehensive modern excavation of a Roman cemetery in Somerset.

‘The application of technology including aerial drones and techniques such as isotope and ancient DNA analysis offers major opportunities for insights into the lives of the Roman population of Somerton.

‘The individuals were evidently of some status in native society.

‘The burials also show early adoption of Roman burial practices such as offerings alongside traditionally Iron Age characteristics.’

The graves were dug into the bedrock and lined with stone curbs to create a coffin-like structure and sealed with flat slabs.

The burials included both adults and children with a smattering of valuables in the graves, including pottery and brooches

The excavations also unveiled other Roman relics beside the bodies, including traces of Iron Age roundhouses, field systems and a Roman building (pictured)

Somerset County Councillor Faye Purbrick, Cabinet Member for Education and Transformation, said: ‘The findings are both exciting and extraordinary providing us with valuable insight into Somerset’s early history’

The excavations also unveiled other Roman relics beside the bodies, including traces of Iron Age roundhouses, field systems and a Roman building.

Work on the new 420-pupil school had to be delayed while experts from Wessex Archaeology dug the site – and unearthed the discoveries.

Work on the school is set to resume following a short archaeological hiatus this month. 

Somerset County Councillor Faye Purbrick, Cabinet Member for Education and Transformation, said: ‘The findings are both exciting and extraordinary providing us with valuable insight into Somerset’s early history.

‘We will be able to understand so much more about the lives of Roman people in Somerton thanks to these discoveries.

The site archaeology has been carefully gathered for further scientific analysis and full findings on both the skeletons and the artefacts in the graves will be published in due course, the archaeologists say 

Work on the new 420-pupil school had to be delayed while experts from Wessex Archaeology dug the site – and unearthed the discoveries

‘Our team have a great track record of delivering fantastic new schools and while we’d always prefer any delay to be avoided I think that the students, parents and teachers will understand in this instance, given the scale and importance of the archaeological finds here.

‘The children have already had an opportunity to visit the site hopefully inspiring some future archaeologists and I’m sure they will be excited to continue to learn more about this very special site.’

The site archaeology has been carefully gathered for further scientific analysis.

A full report of the findings will be published in due course, according to the people who dug up the site.