1.
GV Workers at ancient necropolis at Ostia Antica.
0.03

2.
SV Tombs with workers.
0.06

3.
MV Workers lift skull from earth.
0.11

4.
CU Skull.
0.16

5.
MV Another skull unearthed.
0.20

6.
MV Worker pan to bones.
0.24

7.
CU Bones.
0.26

8.
CU PAN..remains of skeleton.
0.30

9.
GV Workers on ornamental paving.
0.34

10.
CV PAN..paving to group in b/g.
0.42

11.
SV Group working on ancient column.
0.46

12.
CU Dusting ornamental feature.
0.49

13.
CU Similar.
0.53

14.
CU Similar.
0.57

15.
CU Similar.
1.00

16.
CU Ancient stone work.
1.03

17.
SV Workers digging.
1.06



Initials BA/V/JF/PB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: During the construction of a new highway which will join Rome with the new international airport at Fiumicino an ancient Roman necropolis was brought to light at Ostia Antica by bull-dosers which were being used to level the ground. Large marble slabs stopped the machine and a closer inspection showed that a vast burial place dating to the 1st or 2nd century A.D. had been discovered.

The tombs are rather modest and apparently were used to house the bodies of the lower strata of the population and of freed slaves who were known as "liberti". In the tombs are clay pots containing the ashes of the dead. Some graves contains embalmed bodies, and the skeletons of these are well preserved and will be carefully studied.