Roman Funerary Bed found in London

Photo Credit: Mola

In a groundbreaking archaeological find, researchers in London have stumbled upon a treasure that promises to reshape our understanding of Roman burial practices in Britain. The unearthing of a complete wooden funerary bed, the first of its kind ever discovered in the country, has been described as an "exceptionally important" revelation.

The remarkable bed, crafted from oak with intricately carved feet and joints secured by small wooden pegs, was carefully dismantled before being laid within the grave of an adult male in his late 20s or early 30s. The excavation, which took place near Holborn viaduct in central London, also revealed five oak coffins alongside the bed.

What makes this find even more extraordinary is the impeccable preservation of the wooden artefacts. Typically, wooden remains from the Roman era in Britain are rare due to decay over time. However, the waterlogged burial site adjacent to the now underground river Fleet provided the perfect conditions for the preservation of these ancient graves.

Michael Marshall, an artefacts specialist with archaeologists Mola (Museum of London Archaeology), described the funerary bed as "unparalleled" and compared its dismantled state to "flat-packed furniture for the next life." While much about the burials is yet to be studied, the discovery challenges previous assumptions about Roman burial practices in Britain.

The site, located outside the walls of the Roman city and buried 6 meters below the modern ground level, had been partially excavated in the 1990s. However, the discovery of the complete bed took the archaeologists by surprise, as there was no previous evidence of people being buried in such Roman burial beds in Britain.

No grave goods were found alongside the bed, but experts believe that the individual buried in it was likely of high status. Marshall noted, "It's an incredibly well-made piece of furniture. This is a piece of proper joinery, as opposed to something that has been sort of banged together. It's one of the fancier pieces of furniture that's ever been recovered from Roman Britain."

In addition to the bed, personal objects were recovered from other parts of the cemetery, including beads, a glass vial with residue, and a decorated lamp dating back to the earliest period of Roman occupation. The lamp's design, featuring a defeated gladiator, is particularly intriguing, suggesting subtle choices in how people mourned their dead during Roman times.

As excavations at the site continue, these findings open a window into the intricate and nuanced burial practices of ancient Romans in Britain, providing archaeologists with valuable insights into the lives and customs of this bygone era.

Photo Credit: Mola