The Roman-era tomb, discovered about four years ago, is on the agenda again after years of work. After examining and restoring thousands of years of personal belongings found in the tomb, archaeologists shared new details about the life of a young woman named Annion.
The tomb, located in the necropolis area in the south of Tauric Chersonesos, was unearthed during excavations carried out in 2022. It is stated that the complex, including the tomb, dates back to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.
TOMBSTONE REVEALS HIS IDENTITY
The Ancient Greek inscription on the grave helped identify the person buried here.
According to the inscription, the grave belonged to a young woman named Annion, who died at the age of 18. The discovery of Annion’s name on a red glazed bowl unearthed from the grave strengthened the findings regarding her identity.
Anthropological examinations also showed that the remains in the grave belonged to a young woman approximately 20 years old.
1,900-YEAR-OLD BLUE TRACES WERE PRESERVED
Personal items unearthed from the grave included gold ornaments, rings, necklaces and decorative pieces thought to have been used in clothing.
One of the most striking finds was the young woman’s cosmetic materials.
Archaeologists have identified small boxes made of bone used to store cosmetic products. It was determined that traces of blush dating back approximately 1,900 years were still preserved in one of the boxes.
PERFUME CONTAINERS WERE ALSO FOUND
Among the items left in Annion’s grave were glass containers used to store oil and perfume.
It was stated that one of the glass containers was designed in the shape of a date and the other in the shape of a bunch of grapes.
Hairpins, spindle whorls and many beads were also recovered from the grave.
NOT A SINGLE GRAVE
Years of investigation have also revealed that Annion’s tomb is not a single structure. It was stated that the grave was part of a larger Roman period cemetery complex used by the same family for different generations.
Researchers estimate that Annion belonged to an influential and wealthy family in the city at the time.
It was announced that in addition to the young woman, the remains of a child aged approximately 6-7 were also found in the burial chamber associated with Annion. The cause of death of the young woman has not been determined yet.
DETAILS WERE SHARED AFTER YEARS OF WORK
The discovery of the tomb complex was announced in 2022. However, cataloging and examining the artifacts in the area and restoring the structures took years.
It was decided that preserving the tomb structures where they were located was risky due to the high groundwater level in the region. After the structures were recorded using digital methods, they were dismantled, moved to a safe area and reconstructed.
After years of work, details about the personal belongings and cosmetic materials found in Annion’s grave were shared with the public.
