Ancient Roman sarcophagus unearthed in London

A 1600-year-old Roman sarcophagus has been unearthed near London's Borough Market, alongside the bones of a baby.

The stone coffin found by Southwark Council archaeologists is thought to contain the remains of a mother, with the baby’s remains and a bracelet found in soil nearby.

Senior planner for Southwark Council, Gillian King, told ITV the sarcophagus appears to have been looted by thieves.

"(The lid has) been broken into two pieces, probably when robbers broke into it during the post-medieval period. We hope that they will have left the things that were of small value to them but great value to us as archaeologists," King said.

"We always knew this site had the potential for a Roman cemetery, but we never knew there would be a sarcophagus."

The coffin was discovered at Swan Street, Southwark after council ordered developers to conduct an archaeological dig because of the site's proximity to ancient Roman roads.

The remains inside the sarcophagus are thought to be of someone of high status, however, further tests are required.