1,700 Years Old Intact Aylesbury Roman Egg With Liquid Discovered, Scientists 'Blown Away'
Researchers unearthed a 1,700-year-old egg during a dig at Aylesbury. Recent analysis uncovered that its contents are miraculously still intact, BBC reported. The egg was laid during the Roman Britain era and is the only intact chicken egg to be found from those times.
The egg's existence was revealed in 2019 and at the time was considered a "genuinely unique discovery" by the researchers. The later results regarding the insides of the egg multiplied the finding's value for experts and left them "blown away."
The discovery was labeled 'Aylesbury egg' and was located at a site in Berryfields which was set to undergo housing development, The Guardian reported. It was placed alongside four other eggs, a woven basket, pottery vessels, leather shoes, and animal bones.
After the eggs were spotted, authorities were informed who began the extracting process in 2010. Despite the experts being as careful as possible, three eggs broke in the process and released a sulfurous stench. Only one of the eggs came out completely whole.
Experts examined the pit where the eggs were found and believe that it was a gift to god, The Guardian reported. "This was a wet area next to a Roman road. It may have been the eggs were placed there as a votive offering. The basket we found may have contained bread," Edward Biddulph, the senior project manager at Oxford Archaeology explained.
Researchers were ecstatic to find such a rare natural find from the Roman Britain era, in such a pristine condition, The Guardian reported. This was not a regular occurrence, "We do often find pieces of shells but not intact eggs," Biddulph said.
In 2023, authorities discussed how to display the egg, The Guardian reported. Amidst the talks, Dana Goodburn-Brown, an archeological conservator and materials scientist, suggested that the find be scanned to understand the best method to preserve it. His advice was accepted, and the egg was sent for analysis.
The outcome stunned experts and increased the discovery's importance in their eyes. "The egg turned out to be even more amazing. It still contained its liquid, the yolk and the white," Biddulph said.
The update surprised experts who were not expecting the egg's insides would be intact after a whole millennia, The Guardian reported. "We might have expected it to have leached out over the centuries but it is still there. It is absolutely incredible. It may be the oldest egg of its type in the world," Biddulph claimed.
The egg has been sent to Natural History Museum in London, as experts continue to discuss the future steps they will take to preserve and find more about the finding, The Guardian reported.
Currently, the egg is under the care of Goodburn-Brown who is both honored and nervous by the task. "The egg ranks as one of the coolest and most challenging archeological finds to investigate and conserve. Being the temporary caretaker and investigator of this Roman egg counts as one of the major highlights of my 40-year career,” she said.