Thousand-Year-Old Sarcophagus Discovered In Odense

AncientPages.com - Archaeologists from Odense City Museums have opened a stone coffin beneath the city's smal timber church of St. Alban’s Priory in Odense, Denmark

The coffin with the remains had remained untouched for about 1,000 years, reports DR.dk.

The identity of the skeleton found inside is yet to be established.

The so-called sarcophagus was uncovered during the extensive construction works currently undergoing in the city, reports Online Post

The sarcophagus was found in the locale of the former wooden St Alban’s Priory, where a Danish king, Canute the Holy, was assassinated by rebels in 1086.

A skeleton found inside the medieval coffin will need to be examined before it can be determined who the person was.

 

 

Based on the coffin’s location and its expensive appearance, Odense archaeologists assume it was most likely someone from the very top of society, such as a bishop or a noble.

The sarcophagus consists of a casket and a four-part cover carved in limestone and was laid in a grave two meters long and half a meter wide.

The remains and artifacts have been moved to the University of Southern Denmark for further study.

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source: Online Post