An archaeologist has identified the skeleton found in a Roman sarcophagus at Westminster Abbey as likely that of an 11th-century abbot, resolving a mystery dating back to 1820.
01Summary
- 01The limestone sarcophagus was first discovered in 1820 and officially excavated in 1869 from what was once a yard of a sacristy built by Henry III.
- 02Radiocarbon dating of the bones suggested they were from the late 10th or early 11th century.
- 03The lid features a large, carved late Anglo-Saxon cross that was a later modification.
- 04Prof Warwick Rodwell believes the remains belong to Abbot Ælfwig, who died circa 1020, or Wulfnoth, who died circa 1049.
- 05The skeleton belonged to a man 5ft 9in tall and aged between 35 and 49.
02Why it matters
This discovery sheds light on early medieval burial practices and the history of Westminster Abbey, one of Britain’s most significant historical sites.
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