1,400-Year-Old Visigoth Sarcophagus Found Under Roman Villa In Spain

A research team led by Rafael González Fernández, professor of Ancient History at the University of Murcia, has discovered a spectacular sarcophagus from the Visigothic period at the site of the Roman necropolis of Los Villaricos, in Mula.

It is a 2-metre long piece with geometric decoration interspersed with ivy leaves. On the front corresponding to the part of the chancel, a Christogram has been documented framed in a border. Its chronology corresponds, in the absence of further studies, possibly to the 6th century.

Visigoth-sarcophagus-3.jpg

Rafael González described this finding as spectacular and unexpected, and which corroborates previous studies on the chronology of the necropolis. This necropolis originated next to the basilica church after the abandonment of the town in the 5th century.

This summer’s archaeological campaign is taking place in the main necropolis of the site, which occupied the part of the impluvium and rooms adjacent to the Roman house once it had been abandoned. Essentially, the work this summer is focusing on three areas.

Firstly, the cleaning of a fountain that possibly supplied water to the villa; secondly, progress is being made in what we call the “pool area”, dedicated to the production and storage of some product that we still do not know today; and thirdly, the aim is to complete the excavation of the tombs that were located above the rooms of the villa when it lost its function, at a time between the end of the 5th and the beginning of the 7th century.

The presence of this necropolis may be justified by the transformation of the Oecus or Triclinium, a kind of reception hall, the best room in a Roman villa, into a space for Christian worship. This would explain the presence of the burials next to this religious building in what we know as the necropolis ad sanctos.

Related Posts

The Megalithic Marvel of Sacsayhuamán, Peru

High above the city of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, stands one of the most extraordinary feats of engineering ever accomplished: the fortress of…

The Mysterious Parallels of Dolmens: India and the Caucasus

Across continents and separated by thousands of kilometers, ancient stone monuments echo each other in form and function. The dolmens of southern India and those scattered across…

The Enigmatic Stone Terraces of the Andes: A Testament to Ancient Ingenuity

High in the Andean mountains, surrounded by dense forests and steep slopes, lies an awe-inspiring stone structure carved directly into the mountainside. This monumental work of ancient…

Library of Celsus in Ephesus, Türkiye: A Timeless Testament to Ancient Knowledge

Introduction to the Library of Celsus The Library of Celsus in ancient Ephesus, Türkiye, is an enduring symbol of Roman architectural and intellectual achievement. Built between 110 and 114…

Lohagad Fort: A Majestic 2,000-Year-Old Hilltop Fortress in Maharashtra

Lohagad Fort, perched high on the hills of Maharashtra, India, is a monumental structure that has stood the test of time for over 2,000 years. It has…

The Genius Behind the Giza Pyramids: Why the Plateau Was Perfect for Construction

The Giza Plateau was carefully chosen for the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza because of its solid limestone bedrock, which provided a stable foundation to…