More than 12 graves have been discovered in Ostia, a Roman port city at the mouth of the Tiber River. Dated to the 3rd-4th century CE the graves probably belong to Christians. They surround a central grave that belonged to someone of religious and social importance.
This tomb has the form of a round mausoleum, lined with travertine. The building was built in the late Republic, to be used again in late antiquity. Archaeologists say that the grave may belong to a family member who wanted to be buried in an important location, probably related to one of the saints.
The area where the necropolis was located is now Parco dei Ravennati, once a suburb of Ostia on the west bank of the Tiber. The necropolis was in use from the early Empire to the 5th century CE.
