Ancient graves uncovered in Southern Portugal

Lisbon: Three burials dated to the fifth or sixth century A.D. have been unearthed in southern Portugal, at the site of the ancient Roman city of Ossónoba.

The tombs, which held the remains of a man, a young woman, and baby who was no more than six months of age at the time of death, had been sealed with limestone slabs taken from older monumental buildings.

It is not clear if the individuals were related to each other, but analysis of DNA samples and isotopic analysis of the bones may offer more information about who these people were, what they ate, and where they lived, said archaeologist Francisco Correio of ERA Arqueologia.

The burials appear to have been looted in the past, added biological anthropologist Cláudia Maio. She expects that small bracelets, necklaces, and rings were taken.

The researchers also recovered Roman artifacts in the area, including ceramics, bone dice, nails, pins, a spoon, possible evidence of a dye factory, and coins minted during the reign of Constantine the Great, between A.D. 306 an