Perfect Bronze Age skeleton in the heart of Rome

ARCHAELOGISTS were yesterday celebrating the discovery of an intact 3,000-year-old Bronze Age skeleton in the heart of ancient Rome.

Experts said the body was that of a woman and that she was probably the wife of a tribal leader as she was buried with four bronze bracelets, a ring, two hair-grips and an amber necklace.

Burials within ancient Rome were rare, with cremations more common.

The find has excited experts not just because it dates back to 1,000 years before Christ, but also because it predates the very founding of Rome at 745BC.

What has also amazed historians is that the woman, who was aged about 30, had a perfect set of teeth.

Anna De Santis, the archaeologist leading the dig, said: "It's a fascinating discovery because it is the first burial site that we have found in this particular area - the rest have all been cremations.

"What is also interesting is that she has a full set of perfect teeth, so one would imagine her flashing a beautiful smile. At 5ft 7in she would also have been above the average height for the period, so with her beautiful smile and flowing hair kept in place with bronze hairpieces, one can picture a very beautiful woman."

The skeleton was found in the Forum of Caesar in central Rome, close to the famous "wedding cake" monument of Piazza Venezia.

Three thousand years ago the Forum was marshland and only began to develop into the cornerstone of ancient Rome 500 years later.

Related topics

• The Romans
  http://heritage.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=450
• Dinosaurs and prehistoric life
  http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=189

This article: http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=801632006

Last updated: 30-May-06 00:50 BST

Additional article

10th-Century Skeleton of Woman Unearthed in Rome

Tuesday, May 30, 2006 PHOTOS Click image to enlarge language=JavaScript>writeScroll(openTab1,'1');</SCRIPT> STORIES �?/FONT> Roman Tomb Predates Founding of City �?/FONT> Medieval Graveyard Found in Central England �?/FONT> Prehistoric Dental Instruments Found in Pakistan language=JavaScript>writeScroll(openTab2,'2');</SCRIPT> ROME ï¿½?nbsp;Archaeologists said Tuesday they have dug up a woman skeleton dating to the 10th century B.C. in an ancient necropolis in the heart of Rome. The well-preserved skeleton appears to be that of a woman aged about 30, said Anna De Santis, one of the archaeologists who took part in the excavations under the Caesar's Forum, part of the sprawling complex of the Imperial Forums in central Rome. An amber necklace and four pins were also found near the about 5.25 feet-long skeleton, she said. The bones, dug up Monday, would likely be put on display in a museum after being examined further, De Santis said. It was the first skeleton to be found in the 3,000-year-old necropolis, she said. Early this year, a funerary urn that contained human ashes, as well as bone fragments that appeared to be from a sheep, were found in one of the necropolis' tombs. Alessandro Delfino, another archaeologist who took part in the excavations, said Monday's discovery highlighted a "social change" in the funerary habits of the people who dwelled in the area, from incinerating to burying the dead.