Romano-British sarcophagus
- Gallery: Room 49
- Culture: Romano-British
- Made in: British Isles
- Date: Early 4th century A.D.
- Object type: sarcophagus
- Materials: stone
- Museum number: 1853,0620.1
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
Before you is a Romano-British sarcophagus dating to the early fourth century A.D. Carved from stone, it features a draped male portrait in profile on the front, set within a decorative panel adorned with intricate details. You’ll notice an ornate lid with alternating rows of leaves and patterns, and baskets of fruit on the sides, all secured by iron clamps that have withstood centuries.
This artwork reflects local Roman-era craftsmanship in the British Isles, incorporating familiar Roman styles adapted to regional preferences. Inside the sarcophagus was a lead coffin that held the remains of a young boy, a practice common in Romano-British burial traditions. The presence of lime around the body suggests a ceremonial coating used widely in fourth-century Britain.
Crafted with care yet displaying some uncertainty in execution, the sarcophagus reveals much about cultural adaptation under Roman influence.
See it in person
Romano-British sarcophagus is on display in Room 49 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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