A rare Roman tombstone found in Gloucestershire, England, weeks ago was turned over Wednesday to reveal an inscription: "To the spirits of the departed/Bodicacia/faithful wife/died aged 27," according to a preliminary translation by Cotswold Archeology.
Courtesy Cotswold Archaeology
Rare tombstone uncovered —
Archaeologists date the tombstone to the 2nd century AD and say it's unusually well-preserved. The stone was found on a site where a garage was built in the 1960s.
Courtesy Corinium Museum
Rare tombstone uncovered —
The stone was found with a skeleton nearby -- a rare combination, according to Ed McSloy, Cotswold Archaeology's senior Finds and Archives officer. Roman tombstones were often repurposed for other building projects.
Courtesy Corinium Museum
Rare tombstone uncovered —
Examination of the skeleton can tell experts about the person's gender, age at death, diet and if the person was local to the area.
Courtesy Corinium Museum
Rare tombstone uncovered —
Along with the inscription, the tombstone features a carving that is believed to depict Oceanus, the god of the sea.
