Archaeologists have discovered 2,000-year-old grave of Roman soldier in Netherlands

Archaeologists have discovered in Heerlen (southern Netherlands) a 2,000-year-old tomb of a Roman soldier named Flaccus, which provides the earliest evidence of Roman settlement in the region. The discovery was made in November 2024.

At the site, cremated human remains and artifacts were found, such as a bronze strigilis, pottery fragments and terra sigillata plates (dating to the first half of the 1st century CE). The abbreviation “FLAC”, referring to the name Flaccus, was found engraved on one of the plates. This tomb provides clear evidence of early Roman presence in Heerlen, then known as Coriovallum, strategically located at the crossroads of major Roman roads.

The discovered artifacts from Flaccus’ grave will be cleaned, preserved and exhibited in the new Roman museum in Heerlen.