The Muzeul de Istorie Națională și Arheologie Constanța has announced the discovery of 34 Roman-period tombs during preventive excavations at the Constanța Municipal Hospital site, an area located within the ancient necropolis of Tomis.
What began as a routine archaeological assessment tied to infrastructure upgrades has developed into one of the most significant recent urban discoveries along Romania’s Black Sea coast.
The hospital complex is located in the legally protected necropolis of Tomis, the Greco-Roman city that thrived as a major port on the western Black Sea and later became an important urban centre in the province of Moesia Inferior.
Due to the site’s classification as an archaeological zone, preventive research was required under Romanian heritage legislation before construction could begin.
Excavations were conducted in two phases between September 2025 and February 2026 with the consent of the Ministry of Culture.
Archaeologists found 34 Roman-era graves, many of which accommodated multiple inhumations with catacomb-style chambers. The tombs also contained grave goods: jewellery, personal adornments, glass vessels, coins, and an exceptional quantity of ceramic material — particularly African amphorae.
These transport vessels, generally used for wine or olive oil, indicate sustained commercial connections between Tomis and North Africa during the Roman Empire. In funerary contexts, these vessels may point to both wealth derived from trade and symbolic expressions of status.
Two finds emerge as notably uncommon. The first is a 3rd-century AD Greek inscription that provides important clues for the city’s social and spiritual structure during the Roman era.
The second is an umbo — the main metal boss of a ceremonial parade shield. Such objects are extremely rare in funerary contexts and suggest that the person buried with them enjoyed military honour or elite status.
According to the archaeologists, these finds contribute to the new archaeological record of Tomis, showing that substantial portions of the historical city are still preserved beneath modern Constanța.
Sources : Muzeul de Istorie Națională și Arheologie Constanța
