Хорватын Цавтат хотын түүхэн төвөөс Ромын эзэнт гүрний үед хамаарах, огт хөндөгдөөгүй чулуун авсыг археологичид илрүүлсэн нь сүүлийн жилүүдийн томоохон нээлт болж байна.
Эртний Эпидавр хотын оршуулгын газарт хийсэн малтлагын үеэр олдсон энэхүү таван тонн жинтэй, “Салонитан” загварын чулуун авс нь МЭ-ний IV-VI зууны үед хамаарна. Газрын гадаргаас гурван метрийн гүнд, анхны шохойжсон зуурмагаараа битүүмжлэгдсэн хэвээр олдсон нь уг олдворыг шинжлэх ухааны хувьд онцгой үнэ цэнтэй болгож байна.
Археологич Синиша Бизяк, уран барималч Томислав Шалов нарын удирдсан баг авсыг гэмтээлгүйгээр нээж, дотроос нь нэгэн хүний шарилыг илрүүлжээ. Хэдийгээр яс нь маш эмзэг, үйрч бутарсан байдалтай байсан ч бунхан доторх органик үлдэгдэл болон бусад эд өлгийн зүйлс нь Ромын эзэнт гүрний үеийн оршуулгын зан үйл, өдөр тутмын амьдралыг судлахад чухал ач холбогдолтой юм.
Одоо судлаачид авсны таг битүүмжилсэн шохойн зуурмаг болон бусад олдворуудад спектрометр, микроморфологийн шинжилгээ хийж, он цагийг нарийвчлан тогтоохоор ажиллаж байна. Энэхүү цогц судалгаа нь эртний Ромын колони байсан Эпидавр хотын түүхийг илүү тодорхой болгох боломжийг олгож байна.
Дэлгэрэнгүйг эх сурвалжаас харах
↓Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
A Late Roman stone sarcophagus discovered beneath the historic center of Cavtat, Croatia, had remained sealed for around 1,500 years. Unearthed in the ancient necropolis of Epidaur, the find is already being described as one of the country’s most significant archaeological discoveries in recent years.
The sarcophagus was uncovered during excavations at the Zorina 8 archaeological site, where researchers have been investigating part of the cemetery of the former Roman colony of Epidaur. The team identified several different types of burials, though one discovery immediately stood out.
According to the Museums and Galleries of Konavle, the stone coffin remained in its original position and had never been opened since antiquity. Even traces of the original lime mortar used to seal the lid were still visible, highlighting how undisturbed the burial had remained over the centuries.
A Burial Left Untouched Since Roman Times
The sarcophagus was a large Salonitan-type stone coffin dating from between the 4th and 6th centuries AD. Buried about three metres below the present ground level and weighing approximately five tonnes, it represents one of the few fully sealed Late Roman burials discovered in Croatia.
Once the massive lid was lifted for transportation, archaeologists confirmed that the monument contained the remains of a single individual buried as the primary inhumation. Although the skeleton was poorly preserved, the burial itself had never been disturbed.
In a translated statement, the excavation team said the tomb‘s untouched condition makes it an exceptionally valuable discovery, giving researchers a rare opportunity to study a burial that has remained undisturbed since it was first sealed.
The Investigation Is Only Beginning
The skeletal remains were described as fragile and fragmented, preventing archaeologists from determining the individual’s age or sex during the initial examination. Researchers also recovered organic deposits and other associated materials from inside the sarcophagus.
These materials, together with samples of the original lime mortar used to seal the tomb, were collected under strict chain-of-custody protocols for laboratory analysis. Planned examinations include dating, spectrometry, and micromorphological analyses to characterize the biological remains and any associated burial materials.
Even though the human remains have not survived well, archaeologists recovered organic deposits and other material from inside the sarcophagus. Those samples will now be examined in the laboratory and the analyses could provide new information about burial customs and everyday life during the final centuries of Roman rule in the region.
A Remarkable Journey From the Ground to the Gallery
Recovering the monument required a carefully coordinated operation. Archaeologists first removed the massive stone lid before lifting and transporting the five-tonne sarcophagus without compromising its structural integrity. Every stage of the process was carefully planned to minimize the risk of damage and ensure the ancient burial remained as intact as possible during the move.
The operation was supervised by conservator-restorer Siniša Bizjak, working alongside sculptor Tomislav Šalov and a team of specialists responsible for the safe extraction, transport, and long-term preservation of the monument.
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