Westminster Abbey skeleton identified as medieval abbot
Carbon dating and archaeological analysis point to Abbot Aelfwig as likely occupant of Roman sarcophagus.
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A long-standing mystery surrounding the identity of a skeleton found within a Roman sarcophagus at Westminster Abbey appears to be resolved. The remains, discovered in 1869, are now thought to belong to a high-ranking medieval monk, possibly an abbot, who lived approximately 1,000 years ago. This conclusion follows new analysis of bone samples and the sarcophagus itself.
New Dating Evidence
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The limestone sarcophagus originally bore an inscription to Valerius Amandinus, suggesting an occupant from Roman London between 300 and 400 AD. However, a Latin cross carved into the lid, dated to the 10th or 11th century, cast doubt on this initial assessment. Carbon dating of a bone sample by the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre provided a date range of 987 to 1052 AD for the death of the individual. This dating aligns with the period of the cross, indicating the sarcophagus was reused in the late Saxon period, as reported by The Standard.
Identifying the Abbot
Professor Warwick Rodwell, Westminster Abbey’s consultant archaeologist, has concluded that Abbot Aelfwig, who served from 993 and died around 1020, is the most likely occupant. Another possibility is his successor, Wulnoth, who died in approximately 1049. Professor Rodwell stated, "We have two viable contenders for the occupant of the sarcophagus. We do not know the date of birth of either. But either would fit equally well if we assume the Abbot was in his early twenties when the appointment was made and close to fifty when he died." He added that Aelfwig's existing status as a monk at Westminster might favour him, as reported by ianVisits.
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The individual was identified as a man, standing approximately 5ft 9in tall, and aged between 35 and 49 at the time of death. This assessment differs from earlier suggestions of a younger man. Professor Rodwell noted that being honoured with a fine sarcophagus and a large Latin cross strongly implies the occupant was an abbot, as individuals of lower rank would not have received such burial treatment.
Historical Context
The sarcophagus was initially discovered by workmen in 1820, who may have damaged the lid while searching for artefacts. It was later rediscovered in 1869, with attempts made to repair the broken lid and skull fragments. Analysis in 2016 identified the outline of a timber coffin within the stone casket, which had completely decayed over the centuries. The sarcophagus is now on public display in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey.
Questions this report answers
+Who is believed to be buried in the Westminster Abbey sarcophagus?
Archaeological analysis and carbon dating suggest the skeleton found in the Roman sarcophagus at Westminster Abbey is most likely Abbot Aelfwig, who died around 1020 AD. His successor, Wulnoth, who died in 1049, is also considered a possibility.
+How old is the sarcophagus and when was it reused?
The limestone sarcophagus was originally inscribed for Valerius Amandinus, dating to between 300 and 400 AD. However, carbon dating of the skeletal remains indicates the tomb was reused in the late Saxon period, between 987 and 1052 AD.
+What evidence points to the occupant being an abbot?
The presence of a large Latin cross on the sarcophagus lid, dated to the 10th or 11th century, and the fact that the individual was buried in a fine sarcophagus suggest a person of high ecclesiastical rank. Professor Warwick Rodwell stated that only an abbot would have been afforded such burial honours.
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