Roman woman's remains found during hospital dig

The discovery of a late-Roman burial during digs at a former hospital has been branded "spectacular" by an archaeologist.

The woman, believed to be of high-status, was found buried in a decorated lead coffin at the former Essex County Hospital site.

Adam Wightman, of the Colchester Archaeological Trust, said: "This is one of the most fascinating Roman burials we have worked on in Colchester in recent years."

Named the "Lexden Lady", the coffin and her remains are due to go on display at the city's Roman Circus visitor centre on Saturday.

The remains were accompanied by jet hairpins and rare glass flasks.

Experts predict the woman was in her late-20s or early 30s and may have grown up in Colchester.

Their studies suggested her burial was carefully staged.

Residue analysis identified frankincense and gypsum within the coffin and exotic resins in one of the glass vessels, offering a glimpse into how the body was treated after death.

Wightman, the trust's director of archaeology, said: "The decorated coffin is a beautiful object in its own right.

"But it is the combination of the coffin, the grave goods and the scientific evidence that makes this burial so compelling."

The burial was found during the final stages of excavation work at the former hospital, where 120 homes are being built.

A section of Roman road was also discovered at the site in Lexden Road in 2021.

Visitors to the new exhibition will also be able to see what the scientific analysis has revealed about her life.

Robert Masefield, archaeology director at Tetra Tech Consulting Ltd, said it was "the most spectacular" find he had ever seen across decades of excavating Roman burial grounds.

"The young woman was clearly cherished by her family and by her community," he added.

The exhibition is due to run for a year.

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