V petek, 20. oktobra 2017 je na arheoloških izkopavanjih na Gosposvetski cesti vladalo posebno vzdušje. Že od zgodnjega jutra je na terenu bilo čutiti napetost in pričakovanje pred odprtjem prvega popolnoma nedotaknjenega sarkofaga. Arheologi in drugi pač ne doživimo vsak dan odprtja takšne časovne kapsule. Po prvem poskusu nam pokrova ni uspelo odpreti, saj je bil dodobra zapečaten s svincem in malto, tako da je bilo potrebno v naslednjih urah grobno jamo razširiti. Ob dveh popoldan pa nam je s pomočjo bagra le uspelo dvigniti težak pokrov. Pred nami se je razkril skelet neznanega Emonca, ki je mirno počival v približno 20 cm vode, ki se je nabirala zaradi razpok v skrinji. Vodo smo izčrpali, skelet pa dvignili s kar največjo previdnostjo, saj je neznanec v sarkofagu počival več kot 1600 let. Pokojnikove ostanke smo tako uspeli rešiti pred uničevalno gradbeno žlico, njegove kosti pa nam bodo po analizi pomagale razumeti, kakšno starost je dočakal ter kaj je bil vzrok njegove smrti. Ob lobanji je ležal zanimiv predmet, dan kasneje pa smo uspeli iz skrinje rešiti še ostanke tkanine, v katero je bil pokojni oblečen ob pogrebni slovesnosti. Kaj je bil ta zanimiv in skrivnosten predmet ter iz kakšnega materiala je bila tkanina, vam razkrijemo kmalu. V foto zgodbi si lahko ogledate nekaj utrinkov petkovega dne, kot jih je v objektiv ujel fotograf Matija Lukić.

On Friday, 20th October 2017 one could sense special atmosphere at the archaeological excavations on Gosposvetska cesta in Ljubljana. Since the early morning, tension and expectation before the opening of a completely untouched sarcophagus were felt.  Archaeologists and all the others don’t experience opening of such kind of time capsule very often. After the first try we didn’t manage to open up the cover because it was well sealed with lead and mortar. That is why we needed to widen the grave pit. At 2 pm we finally managed with a help of a mechanical excavator to lift up the heavy cover. Before us a skeleton of an unknown inhabitant of Emona was lying, who was resting peacefully in approximately 20 centimeters of water that gathered because of the cracks in the chest. We pumped out the water and carefully lifted up bones of the deceased that rested in the stone chest for more than 1600 years. So we managed to rescue his remains before they were destroyed by the machines. The well preserved bones will help us understand how old the person was when he died and what the reason of his death was. Beside the skull an interesting item was lying and the next day, when we cleaned the sarcophagus, we discovered remains of a special fabric in which the deceased was dressed during the funerary ceremony. What this interesting and mysterious item was and what kind of fabric was lying under the skeleton will be revealed to you soon. In a photo story we represent you moments from Friday as they were captured by our photographer Matija Lukić. 

Avtor / Author: Mojca Fras