Human Skeleton Found Inside Giant Roman Jar in Bulgaria

Discovery Details at Deultum Western Roman Gate

The skeletal remains were unearthed in the northern turret of Deultum’s western Roman gate, a structure dating to approximately A.D. 300. Researchers found the bones accompanied by two iron knives and a belt inside the container. Dolia represented the largest pottery vessels of antiquity, spanning roughly from the eighth century B.C. to the fifth century A.D., and were typically used to store commodities like wine and olive oil. While the largest dolia could hold more than 260 gallons, the surviving lower portion of this vessel measured about 3 feet in diameter, according to Vagalinski. Excavators from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences were not expecting to find human remains inside the city fortifications, noting that such discoveries are exceedingly rare. According to Vagalinski, human remains inside ancient cities typically appear only during extraordinary circumstances such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or enemy attacks. Historical records indicate that Deultum faced numerous assaults from East Germanic tribes and Huns during the fourth and fifth centuries.

Fire and Turmoil During the Fourth-Century Attack

The archaeological team uncovered a significant quantity of burned material surrounding the dolium, including ashes, coals, broken bricks, tiles, shards, blackened walls, melted glass fragments, and domestic animal bones. Vagalinski explained that residents likely brought their livestock inside the fortress upon hearing of an imminent raid, dropping bronze coins in the resulting chaos. The individual, identified as a young man, appears to have climbed into the empty dolium to hide from the raging fire. Analysis revealed a layer of ash underneath the skeleton inside the dolium, indicating that the individual entered the vessel after the fire had already begun. The young man held one iron knife between his legs to defend himself if discovered, while wearing a second knife tucked into his belt. In any case, he made no attempt to get out of the ceramic vessel, Vagalinski stated, noting that the skeleton rested in a position resembling a sleeping man.

Next Steps and Anthropological Analysis

Following the excavation, surviving residents of the ancient city leveled the ruined tower and covered the debris with a higher floor, unaware that a fellow citizen lay at the bottom of the dolium. The skeletal remains have since been transported to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, for detailed examination by a physical anthropologist. Researchers plan to refine their preliminary date of A.D. 400 once all field data is fully processed. The archaeological team intends to return to the site to unearth the entirety of the western Late Roman gate and complete the investigation of the northern turret. Earlier in the field season, the research group discovered an older latrina near the gate dating between the second and third centuries.