Unsealed Sarcophagus Contains Shocking Find

It could contain clues about life at the time.

The sarcophagus for many people has become synonymous with ancient burial rituals. The coffins were usually reserved for esteemed leaders and wealthy individuals, giving scientists much to learn with every one discovered over the centuries. 

While often associated with ancient Egypt, sarcophagi were also used in ancient Rome and Greece. A recent discovery at the Tomb of Cerberus in the Italian town of Giugliano outside Naples has taught archaeologists more about the preservation of bodies in ancient Roman society. 

When a team of archaeologists opened the 2,000-year-old sarcophagus, they were shocked to find the remains of a person laying face-up in an "excellent state of preservation," according to a statement obtained by Popular Mechanics. The body was covered by a shroud of fabric and surrounded by typical burial goods like ointment jars and body-cleaning tools.

“The Tomb of Cerberus continues to provide valuable information on the Phlegraean territory near Liternum, expanding knowledge of the past and offering opportunities for research of a multidisciplinary nature," Italian Ministry of Culture superintendent Marian Nuzzo said in a statement. 

Now, the team will be busy learning more about a lot of the things they found. 

"In recent months, laboratory analyses conducted on samples taken from the burials and depositional beds have returned a considerable amount of data regarding the treatment of the body of the deceased and the funerary rituals implanted, considerably enriching the panorama of our knowledge," Nuzzo said. 

It must have been quite the burial if people are still excited about it thousands of years later.