An undisturbed Roman-era grave belonging to an approximately 40-year-old man was discovered in Vinkovci, eastern Croatia, earlier this month during excavations ahead of the construction of a new city market, according to Croatia Weekly. 

Previously, a total of 44 other Roman graves were discovered during excavations for the project, with the most recent find being the first to be fully undisturbed. 

Intact and unlooted graves are rare, Croatia Weekly reported, citing Vinkovci City Museum Director Hrvoje Vulić. Out of over 200 that have been excavated so far, only two have been found intact.

“The grave structure is made of brick, but unfortunately, the deceased was buried with a very small number of items,” Vulić said of the most recent, intact find. “We documented an iron object by the right foot and a fragment of bronze on the right shoulder. It is a male, provisionally estimated to be between 40 and 45 years old.”

“The skeleton appears to be in relatively good condition, which is excellent as it will provide a range of data through analysis.”

He added that the area of Vinkovci city market lies within the northern necropolis of the Roman Cibalae, and that most of the other graves discovered so far have contained grave goods such as glass tear bottles, brooches, and other “typical Roman-period objects,” according to Croatia Weekly.

During the second century CE, under the reign of Hadrian (117–138 CE), the city received the status of a municipium, becoming known as Municipium Aelium Cibalae, until the beginning of the third century, when it gained the status of a colony and changed its name to Colonia Aurelia Cibalae. 

This title, loosely translating to "the Aurelian colony of Cibalae," was granted under Roman Emperor Caracalla, also known as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.

The ancient city flourished under the Romans and became a military and commercial center at the crossroads of the two ends of the empire.

Notably, however, it is the birthplace of two Roman emperors: Valentinian I, who ruled from 364 to 375 and was known as the last great western emperor, and his younger brother, Valens, who ruled from 364 to 378.

The two brothers remain the only Roman emperors known to have originated from the territory of modern-day Croatia.

The region also played a pivotal role in one of Rome's defining power struggles, the Battle of Cibalae.

Fought in 316 between emperors Constantine I and Licinius, the battle took place nearby, in the Roman province of Pannonia Secunda.

Despite being outnumbered, Constantine won after leading a cavalry charge that broke Licinius' ranks and killed as many as 20,000 of his troops.