50 Graves of Slaves Who Toiled at a Roman Villa Unearthed in England

Live Science ^ | January 17, 2020 | Laura Geggel, Associate Editor

[SunkenCiv]

These burials date to the Roman period in the United Kingdom, from about A.D. 43 to A.D. 410. Many of the deceased were buried with grave goods, such as pottery and brooches, in what is now Somerset, a county in southwest England...

That community appears to be a culture native in the area, and seems to have merged Iron Age and Roman era burial practices. Some of the buried individuals likely held a high status within their community, Membery added. For instance, an older woman buried with her head on a pillow in a stone-built, coffin-like box (known as a cist) was likely an important person...

Archaeologists also found small nails at the foot of the burials, indicating that many of the people were laid to rest in leather hobnail boots...

Archaeologists found the burials while surveying the area ahead of the construction of a new school. The graves were dug into the bedrock, many with tops and bottoms lined with flat stones to create a coffin. Some of the graves had tented stone roofs, which are less common for this area...

Archaeologists also found traces of Iron Age round-shaped houses as well as a Roman building, in the area. The villa itself has yet to be found, but an outhouse and a barn that may be part of it have been discovered...

In addition, the team found coins with the likeness of the Roman emperor Vespasian (who reigned from A.D. 69 to 79), carved bone that once was likely part of a knife handle and an unusual lead weight that was probably part of a survey tool called a groma, which is similar to a sextant.

[SunkenCiv]

Not the same, but pretty interesting, a multipart Time Team:

somerset time team roman

Google

[SunkenCiv]

[dp0622]

I hope their ancestors don’t ask for reparations now.

[BenLurkin]

Early “Anti-Brexit” types

[BenLurkin]

They died with their boots on.

[Reily]

Why not!
Bloody Italians !
You owe us!

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

[Red Badger]

How do they know they were slaves?.....................

[Pearls Before Swine]

The Joker, in his youth.

[SunkenCiv]

see FReepmail.

[max americana]

“How do they know they were slaves?.....................”

There are the words “property of the Democrats” on their shirts..

[centurion316]

Wessex Archaeology, that’s Phil Harding’s outfit. I was under the impression that cist graves were usually found further north than Somerset. Since the villa has yet to be found, they wouldn’t know if the owner was Roman, or Roman-Britain. They probably will never know.

[Tax-chick]

It sounds as if there is evidence that they worked on the Roman villa, and Romans didn’t use paid employees much.

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[PapaBear3625]

And yes, the slaves were white.

[wally_bert]

Nurse Who will change that if used in an episode.

[rktman]

Were they brought from one of the confederate States? 😴

[dp0622]

ROFL!!!

Sure pick on is WOPs. :)

[dp0622]

I’m hoping to die with a buzz on :)

[Gman]

They had scrolls from Roman Revenue Service?