Contents of Cerberus’ Tomb Sarcophagus Revealed

Last year, the tomb of Cerberus was discovered in Giuliano, a suburb of Naples. The sarcophagus was covered with murals, which was the first time in 2,000 years that humans had seen the contents of the sarcophagus with their own eyes. Archaeologists inserted a micro camera into the cracks of the sarcophagus to observe and film the inside of the sarcophagus.

They found a buried body lying on its back, covered with a shroud. The textiles were mineralized and preserved due to the special conditions of the sarcophagus and the sealed burial chamber. The grave goods buried around the deceased included pottery, ointments and scrapers. The elaborate design of the tomb when it was built, the burial in the sarcophagus and the grave goods indicate that the deceased was an important local figure and the head of the family that built this tomb for burial.

A multidisciplinary team of researchers collected and analyzed samples from other burials in the mausoleum. Pollen analysis and microscopic observations showed that the bodies contained Chenopodium (commonly known as Chenopodium album) and wormwood. These plants were likely smeared on the bodies to prevent decay. Samples from human remains are undergoing DNA analysis.

The archaeological research and laboratory sampling and analysis that will continue in the coming months will yield more interesting data not only from the catacombs but also from the surrounding cemeteries. These data will help to reconstruct the historical and social context of an ancient community that still has much to reveal.