Archaeologists working in Bulgaria have made a striking discovery: the skeletal remains of an individual preserved within a massive Roman storage vessel. The find, unearthed in August at the ancient settlement of Deultum, suggests the person sought refuge inside the ceramic container during a catastrophic assault approximately 1,600 years ago. Evidence indicates the individual perished when fire consumed the structure, trapping them within their chosen hiding place.
The giant jar, called a dolium, was located within a fortified tower at the Roman colony’s western gate. Lead excavator Lyudmil Vagalinski from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences notes that Deultum endured repeated incursions from Germanic and Hun forces during the fourth and fifth centuries. The deceased, believed to be a young male, was found alongside two iron blades and a belt. These enormous pottery vessels typically served utilitarian purposes, storing commodities like oil and wine, and could measure approximately three feet in diameter.
Traces of intense burning surrounded the dolium, including ash, charred debris, and melted glass fragments. Based on ash deposits beneath the skeleton, researchers determined the individual entered the container after flames had already begun spreading. The scenario suggests that as attackers approached, inhabitants retreated within the fortress walls, bringing livestock for protection. During the ensuing chaos and fire, this person chose the ceramic vessel as a shelter, apparently positioning themselves defensively with a knife.
Preliminary dating places the catastrophic event around A.D. 400, though more precise chronology will emerge following complete analysis. The remains have been transferred to Sofia for detailed anthropological examination, while excavation work is expected to resume next summer at the western gate complex.
Originally reported by Livescience →
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