Rare Roman stone coffin discovered during A47 road scheme

Presented by Professor Alice Roberts, the BBC documentary Digging for Britain started its twelfth series on January 7 2025.

Episode 1 feature massive hand carved stone coffin, undisturbed since its burial in Roman times over 1,500 years ago.

Experts from Headland Archaeology found it in a small Roman roadside cemetery, discovered during our work to upgrade the A47 to dual carriageway. Part of the A47 between Wansford and Sutton near Peterborough follows the line of an old Roman road.

Weighing 750kg, over 2m long and with sides nearly 10cm thick, the coffin is a rare find. Stone coffins are uncommon. Only around 50 have been discovered around Roman Britain.

It could be the coffin of a high-status individual in the local community. 

The coffin was filled with white Gypsum, a naturally occurring mineral used to make plaster. This burial practice dates to the Roman period (43AD - 410AD). We don't know exactly why bodies were encased in plaster. It could also indicate the burial of a wealthy person. 

Having removed the coffin from the earth, archaeologists could start delicately separating bones from their plaster casing.

Some plaster fragments bore the imprints of the cloth the body had been buried in. The largest fragment of plaster partially preserved the shape of the body itself.

This wasn't an isolated burial.  The stone sarcophagus was surrounded by 23 other graves - possibly from a family or community.

Many of the burials yielded fascinating finds. One grave of a young woman contained collection of valuables - all laid at the feet of the body.

This could be the dowry of a young woman - accompanying her into the afterlife.

The grave also contained glass and ceramic drinking vessels, possibly for a last toast at the graveside or a commemorative anniversary.

More buried treasures unearthed on our schemes in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire and Essex will feature in later episodes.

Watch Digging for Britain on BBC iPLAYER.

Learn how we carry out archaeology ahead of construction work.

Find out about our A47 Wansford to Sutton dualling scheme.