A medieval skeleton found in a Roman sarcophagus at Westminster Abbey has been linked to two 11th-century abbots, according to a study by archaeologist Warwick Rodwell, who analyzed bones discovered during a 2016 conservation effort.
Archaeologists have solved a 150-year-old mystery surrounding a Roman-era sarcophagus unearthed at Westminster Abbey in 1869, revealing that a medieval abbot was buried inside. The discovery, detailed in a study published in the Journal of the British Archaeological Association, identifies two possible candidates: Ælfwig (abbot from 993 to 1020) and Wulfnoth (abbot from 1020 to 1049).
Sarcophagus Found with Disturbed Remains
The sarcophagus, originally crafted in the 4th century CE, was found by the abbey’s chief mason in 1869. Its side bore a Latin inscription commemorating Valerius Amandinus, while the lid featured an 11th-century Anglo-Saxon cross, suggesting later reuse. For over a century, experts believed no remains survived inside, but a 2016 conservation project revealed a disturbed skeleton, prompting new analysis. The sarcophagus was part of a Benedictine sacristy built by King Henry III in the mid-13th century, which remained undisturbed for 600 years until 1820, when workers accidentally cracked its lid into six pieces.
The skeleton, dated to between 987 and 1052, belonged to a middle-aged man of average height with signs of osteoarthritis, healed rib injuries, and gout. Despite the lack of grave goods—likely stolen in the 19th century—Rodwell concluded the individual was almost certainly an abbot
given the dignified burial in a stone sarcophagus with a large cross. Further skeletal analyses suggest the individual was between 35 and 49 years old and approximately 5-foot 9-inches tall at death, challenging the 19th-century notion of a somewhat shorter, “robust young man” under 30.
Carbon Dating and Physical Evidence
Rodwell’s team narrowed the candidates to Ælfwig and Wulfnoth after cross-referencing the carbon dating with historical records of abbots. Ælfwig, a Westminster monk, was a stronger contender due to his ties to the abbey, while Wulfsige—appointed abbot from 988 to 993—was ruled out as he later became a bishop elsewhere. The man’s age at death, estimated between 35 and 49, aligned with both candidates’ lifespans. The remains showed signs of disturbance: a hole in the cranium and disarray among the limb bones. A 2016 report by bioarchaeologist James Langthorne of Pre-Construct Archaeology noted that the person was male, middle-aged, and of average height.
Identifying the Abbot
The study highlights the likelihood that Ælfwig, who died around 1020, was interred in the sarcophagus. Rodwell suggested monks may have placed him in a timber coffin before sealing it with a re-carved cover bearing the Latin cross. The abbot’s associates probably initially placed him in a wooden coffin before lowering it into the sarcophagus.
Experts are also unsure where the Roman sarcophagus came from. The study also points to the potential existence of a Roman villa and cemetery near Westminster Abbey, awaiting discovery. There could be a villa and its cemetery somewhere in the vicinity of Westminster Abbey, awaiting discovery,
Rodwell wrote.
Unanswered Questions
The original 19th-century theory of a robust young man
less than 30 years old was contradicted by the 2016 findings, which revealed a middle-aged man with signs of chronic health issues.