Workers carrying out energy efficiency works at a hospital in Romania accidentally stumbled upon an ancient Roman necropolis dating back nearly 2,000 years hidden beneath the modern medical complex.
Archaeologists from the Constanța Museum of National History and Archaeology were already working alongside construction crews when the discovery was made.
The municipal hospital stands within the archaeological site known as the “Necropolis of the ancient city Tomis”, a protected historic area linked to the ancient city of Tomis.
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As preventive excavations began, researchers started uncovering graves from the Roman period.
In total, 34 tombs were discovered, some of them catacombs containing multiple burials.
Most of the graves held funeral inventory items including wearables, jewellery, glass vessels, coins and an impressive quantity of ceramics, particularly African amphorae used for transporting goods across the Roman Empire.
The discoveries were made in two research phases.
The first phase, carried out between September and October 2025, focused on the perimeter excavation of the hospital building.
The second phase, conducted between January and February 2026, examined the foundation area of the former B wing and planned extensions.
Among the finds were two exceptional pieces, as reported by What’s The Jam.
One was a Greek inscription dating back to the third century, believed to belong to a religious association in ancient Tomis.
The other was a rare Umbo – the central metal boss of a parade shield, an extremely uncommon discovery in the region.
Before excavation, there had been no visible signs of the graves beneath the hospital grounds.
Once the soil and vegetation layer had been removed, the burial structures gradually emerged.
Some tombs were carefully constructed underground chambers, demonstrating the importance of the area in the Roman period.
The hospital site also lies within the protection zone of a historic monument known as the “Cable with Orant from Egreta”, a fourth-century Roman-era artefact.
Under Romanian heritage law, preventive archaeological research and supervision are mandatory in such protected areas.
Researchers said the duration of excavations cannot be precisely determined in advance, as it depends on the scale and complexity of discoveries.
Despite harsh weather conditions, including freezing temperatures, rain, snow and frost, archaeologists continued their work whenever safety allowed.
The museum stressed that its team acted in full compliance with legal obligations and prioritised both public safety and heritage protection.
Officials said the discoveries significantly enrich knowledge of Roman-era Constanța and help preserve an essential part of the city’s cultural identity.
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