Skeleton in Westminster Abbey sarcophagus identified as medieval abbot
Carbon dating of remains found in Roman tomb suggests high-ranking monk, possibly Abbot Aelfwig, who served from 993 to 1020.
Incident → evidence → outcomeA long-standing mystery surrounding the identity of a skeleton found within a Roman sarcophagus at Westminster Abbey appears to have been resolved. New carbon dating of a bone sample indicates the remains belong to a high-ranking medieval monk, likely an abbot, who lived approximately 1,000 years ago.
The sarcophagus itself bears an inscription for Valerius Amandinus, a wealthy Briton from Roman London around 300-400 AD. However, a Latin cross carved into the lid, dated to the 10th or 11th century, cast doubt on the Roman occupant theory. This dating aligns with the period of medieval monastic activity at the Abbey.
Identification of the Monk
Professor Warwick Rodwell, a consultant archaeologist at Westminster Abbey, has concluded that Abbot Aelfwig, who served from 993 to around 1020, is the most probable occupant. His successor, Wulfnoth, who died about 1049, is also considered a possibility. Professor Rodwell noted in the Journal of the British Archaeological Association that while certainty is elusive due to the likely removal of any identifying artefacts, the honour of a fine sarcophagus and a large Latin cross strongly suggests a person of significant ecclesiastical rank.
Analysis of the skeleton, discovered during excavations of the sacristy last year by Pre-Construct Archaeology, revealed the individual was a man, 5ft 9in tall, aged between 35 and 49 at the time of death. The carbon dating, conducted by the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, placed the death between 987 and 1052 AD. Professor Rodwell stated this confirms the sarcophagus was reused and its cover modified in the late Saxon period.
History of the Sarcophagus
The sarcophagus was first uncovered by workmen in 1820, with researchers suggesting the lid may have been damaged during its initial discovery. It was rediscovered in 1869, and attempts were made to repair the broken lid. Cleaning of the sarcophagus interior in 2016 revealed evidence of a timber coffin, which would have decayed over the centuries.
The sarcophagus and its contents have been a subject of historical debate for over 150 years. It is now on public display in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey.
Questions this report answers
01Who is believed to be buried in the Westminster Abbey sarcophagus?
Carbon dating and archaeological analysis suggest the skeleton belongs to a high-ranking medieval monk, possibly Abbot Aelfwig, who served Westminster Abbey from 993 to around 1020 AD. This conclusion is based on the dating of a cross on the sarcophagus lid and the carbon dating of the remains.
02What is the history of the sarcophagus itself?
The limestone sarcophagus was originally inscribed for Valerius Amandinus, a Roman Briton who lived around 300-400 AD. It was first uncovered in 1820 and rediscovered in 1869. Evidence suggests it was reused in the late Saxon period for a medieval abbot, indicated by a 10th or 11th-century Latin cross on its lid.
03When was the skeleton carbon-dated?
A bone sample from the skeleton was sent for carbon dating, which determined the individual's death occurred between 987 and 1052 AD. This timeframe aligns with the period when Abbot Aelfwig served Westminster Abbey, supporting the theory of his burial in the sarcophagus.
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