Roman gravestones found during excavations in the centre of Austria's St. Pölten

In St. Pölten, a town hall report indicates that Roman gravestones were discovered in situ for the first time during archaeological investigations. The two fragments weighing almost 500 kilograms were found on the grounds of the Karmeliterhof building in the city centre, it was revealed. The inscriptions are currently being examined by the University of Vienna and subjected to epigraphic studies.

Credit: APA/Mag Joachim Thaler BA

"The reliefs on the VINDILLIVS tombstone are particularly magnificent. The text field, framed by two spirally fluted columns, shows two birds wearing a garland," the report said.

The second fragment formed the lower part of another grave monument, where the three-line inscription is also framed by columns. These persons belonged to the Roman provincial population and were not Roman citizens. However, they had sufficient financial means to be able to afford high-quality gravestones.

Credit: APA/Mag Joachim Thaler BA

Excavations have been going on since August 2017 on the grounds of the Karmeliterhof prior to the start of construction for a residential project. The fragments were discovered by a team from the Ardig company on 5 March during the discovery of a late antique trench filling.

The defence moat for the Roman settlement of Aelium Cetium was probably built in the 4th century AD, when several new buildings were erected in the centre and the town experienced a boom. The moat lost its function in the course of the 5th century, when the gravestone fragments were filled in.

Credit: APA/Mag Joachim Thaler BA

"Their original location gives rise to speculation, since the known Roman cemeteries were a good 200 metres away from the site, and transporting the pieces would have been quite time-consuming due to their weight," it was reported.

Source: APA [April 25, 2019]