Society & Culture - Tuesday, March 30, 2010 11:19 - 1 Comment

Who’s in the coffin: Gladiator or bishop?

The lead coffin archaeologists found in the abandoned ancient city of Gabii, Italy, could contain a gladiator or bishop. Below, Gabii project field director Anna Gallone brushes dirt away from the lead-encased burial. The sarcophagus will soon be transported to the American Academy in Rome, where engineers will use heating techniques and tiny cameras to learn more about the contents without breaking it open. (Courtesy: Jeffrey Becker/McMaster University)

U. MICHIGAN (US)—In the ruins of a city that was once Rome’s neighbor, archaeologists last summer found a 1,000-pound lead coffin. Who or what is inside is still a mystery, says Nicola Terrenato, who leads the project—the largest American dig in Italy in the past 50 years. Continue…