Museum Explorer
Death in Roman Britain
Tombstone of a young boy
From: Old Penrith, Cumbria
Date: early 2nd century AD
This tombstone is of a boy who died aged only 6. Many Romans died while they were still children. Their lives were hard and they often did not have good diets or medical care.
The inscription says 'To the spirits of the departed and of Marcus Cocceius Nonnus, aged 6; he lies buried here'. The Roman numeral for 6 is VI - can you see where this is written?
This tombstone was found near several cremation pots which held the ashes of the dead. Perhaps the burnt remains of Nonnus were in one of these pots.
