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1,600-year-old skeleton found in a giant jar in Bulgaria may belong to Roman who hid there to escape enemy attack
Live Science • • world
Key Points:
- Archaeologists in Bulgaria discovered a human skeleton inside a giant Roman jar (dolium) in the Late Roman turret of Deultum, dating back over 1,600 years, likely from around A.D. 400.
- The individual, presumed to be a young man, apparently sought shelter in the jar during an enemy attack and fire, dying inside with two iron knives found alongside him.
- The site showed evidence of a violent attack, including burned materials, ashes, broken bricks, and lost bronze coins, suggesting inhabitants brought livestock into the fortress amid the chaos.
- The discovery is rare, as human remains are seldom found inside ancient city ruins except under extraordinary circumstances like attacks or natural disasters.
- The skeleton has been moved to Sofia for further analysis, and the archaeological team plans to continue excavations of the western Late Roman gate and its northern turret next summer.
