Archaeologists discovered the ancient Roman cemetery near the city of Stara Zagoya in Bulgaria. Credit: Regional History Museum – Stara Zagora

Not far from the Black Sea, a child’s grave uncovered in present-day Bulgaria has provided archaeologists a somber look at Roman funerary practices . Flagged in the city of Stara Zagora during a site survey for a new apartment complex and parking garage project, the burial contained stunningly preserved gold earrings as well as a single, small coin known as an antoninianus . But while the currency’s age is traceable to within a year of its minting, the bronze piece may also represent a grieving family’s hopes for their child’s safe passage into the afterlife.

The grave is one of about 135 located in the cemetery. Credit: Regional History Museum – Stara Zagora Martin Kolev

The Roman empire at its height included over 1.9 million square miles of territory, including much of central Europe and central Asia.…