The Australian weird tradition may be a short one, but it’s as varied and rich as anything you’ll find in the Old World. Terror Australis is available now, online and in-store! #horrorficition #newbooks #talesoftheweird #britishlibrary

The identity of a skeleton found in a Roman sarcophagus in the grounds of Westminster Abbey more than 150 years ago appears closer to being solved. The limestone sarcophagus was excavated on the North Green in 1869. It bears an inscription to Valerius Amandinus – a wealthy Briton who lived in the city in around 300 to 400 AD. Also sculpted on the lid however is a Latin cross dating from the 10th or 11th century, suggesting that the human remains which were found within might belong to an Anglo-Saxon who had died many centuries later, when the coffin was re-used. The identity of that person has been a mystery ever since. Now new research by our Consultant Archaeologist, Professor Warwick Rodwell, published in the Journal of the British Archaeological Association, concludes that the bones belonged to a high-ranking medieval monk. Professor Rodwell believes the most likely candidate is Aelfwig, who served as Abbot of the medieval Benedictine monastery and died in around 1020. Another possibility is Aelfwig’s successor, Wulnoth, who died in 1049 and is also presumed to have been buried at the Abbey. Reflecting on his research, Professor Rodwell said: 'We have two viable contenders for the occupant of the sarcophagus. We do not know the date of birth of either. But either would fit equally well if we assume the Abbot was in his early twenties when the appointment was made and close to fifty when he died. The fact Aelfwig was already a monk of Westminster might favour him.' You can see the sarcophagus on permanent display in the our museum, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries.