Inside Ancient Child's Coffin: a Still-Working Rattle

Archaeologists in Romania say a recently opened Roman sarcophagus appears to hold the traces of a child's short life—and the care taken to honor it. Inside the 1,800-year-old stone coffin, found near the ancient city of Tomis (modern-day Constanta) on the Black Sea coast and opened Oct. 27, they uncovered a wooden casket filled with rare grave goods: clay toys, including a rooster-shaped rattle and a horse on wheels; flower garlands; and two protective amulets traditionally given to Roman boys, per Gizmodo and Heritage Daily.

The Museum of National History and Archaeology Constanta calls the find, made ahead of construction work, especially valuable because the burial appears undisturbed, offering a clear look at local funerary customs from the 2nd or 3rd century CE. The burial also contained bronze objects, coins, and traces of painted decoration, likely signs of wealth. The child's remains have not yet been described publicly, and researchers say analysis is just beginning, but the size of the sarcophagus could hint at a child around 4 or 5 years old, per Heritage Daily.