Shock in Siena where a human skeleton "resurfaced" from excavations during road maintenance work in the city centre.

The remains would be “ old ” and, presumably, of a woman . The intervention of the specialists of the Archaeological, Fine Arts and Landscape Superintendence for the provinces of Siena, Grosseto and Arezzo was immediate. According to an initial reconstruction, the skeleton - which was found about one meter deep - could not, at present, be dated exactly . The work in progress was immediately halted to allow for inspections and the area was closed to pedestrian traffic. Police and municipal administration personnel were also on site.

According to Maria Gabriella Carpentiero, archaeologist of the Superintendence , it is "very probable that the skeleton comes from a medieval tomb associated with the nearby Church of Santi Vincenzo ed Anastasio . It would seem a poor burial so it shouldn't be a matter of a prominent figure».

Removal work is scheduled today with archaeologists who will inspect the site. A bronze nail was also found near the bones which "could be associated with a wooden case or some element related to the grave goods", concluded Carpentiero.

(Unioneonline/vf)