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2000 year old Vatican burial ground unveiled

11th October 2006

An ancient necropolis has been unveiled by architects in the Vatican City in Rome, having lain untouched for over 2,000 years.

The burial ground, only discovered three years ago when excavators were preparing to build an underground car park, is host to over 200 tombs and 40 elaborated designed mausoleums, which exhibit the unusual feature of having rich and poor lie side by side.

Though the burial ground is predominately of pagan origin, it is thought that a handful of tombs contain Christian peoples. This would mean that the 500 square metre necropolis uniquely charts part of the area's long religious history, from paganism to the home of present day Catholicism.

Visitors to the newly-opened site can also examine the terracotta tubes that feed into some of the tombs so that the family of the deceased could pour honey inside to nourish their relative.

The Vatican has been the centre of historical revelations over the past few weeks, recently opening up a new part of its secret archives to scholars and historians for the first time.

Experts are currently examining the early 20th century material to see if they can shine new light on the events of both world wars, but what is for certain is that anyone making an on-site examination of the developments of Roman history is in for a fascinating experience.

© Adfero Ltd

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