The People of Verulamium
Pair of Roman copper alloy jugs excavated at Turnershall Farm, near St Albans.
We can find out a great deal about the people who lived in Verulamium from their graves. People buried objects with the dead and this tells us about the clothing, beliefs and wealth of the dead person. Their skeletons can also give us clues about their health, diet and appearance.
In the museum you can see remains from several different burials. A child's coffin was designed to look like a miniature house. He was also buried with toys and charms and a coin to pay the ferryman for passage to the Underworld.
Our most recent addition to this section shows the spectaular finds from two burials at a villa at Turnershall Farm, not far from Verulamium. These include beautiful glassware and bronze vessels (including the two bronze jugs seen here) and extremely rare arrowheads for hunting animals. A touch screen gives you much more information about the burials.
See the reconstructed face of an inhabitant of Verulamium, nicknamed 'Postumus'. Watch a video narrated by 'Postumus', as he describes his life and the discovery, excavation and conservation of his coffin and remains.
