A team of archaeologists claim to have uncovered an 1,800-year-old murder mystery following the discovery of skeletal remains of a child with her hands tied and injuries inflicted to her head.
The skeleton of the child, thought to be below 10 years, was found from a shallow grave in the corner of a barracks room during an excavation at the Vindolanda Roman fort near Bardon Mill in Northumberland, UK.
Human burials in built-up areas such as forts and towns were said to be strictly forbidden in Roman times and the dead had to be interred or cremated in cemeteries on the outskirts.
This has led the experts to believe that the child was murdered and then buried in a rush so as not to arouse suspicion, the Daily Mail reported.
Although the wheels of justice have turned far too slowly for this little girl, her death could help unlock ancient secrets, the researchers said.
A full examination of the remains is expected to take place within days and the results should be known within a month.
The archaeologists are uncertain whether the damage to the skull was inflicted at the time of her death or has taken place in the hundreds of years since.
At first, they believed that they had found the remains of a large dog. But when the entire skeleton was unveiled the grim truth emerged.
Dr Trudi Buck, a biological anthropologist from Durham University, identified the remains as those of a young person, possibly a girl.
She said: "From the body’s position in the grave, the hands could have been tied together.
"The investigation so far has been very preliminary. There were no specific signs of damage to the bones that could be seen on first examination.
"The cranium was very broken when it was discovered, but it is difficult to say if this was from any injuries sustained to it, or whether they have occurred over time."
The grave where the girl was found dates back to the mid-third century, when the Fourth Cohort of Gauls formed the garrison at Vindolanda.
Dr Andrew Birley, Vindolanda's director of excavations, said: "All sorts of scenarios are being considered. First and foremost we could be dealing with a slave, not a free person.
"There could have been a dispute between two soldiers and one of them could have decided to damage the other's property.
"In Roman times slaves were considered to be property, and it is possible the little girl was harmed to settle a score."
It is not the first evidence of foul play at local excavation sites, which take in ten forts built by Romans.
In the 1930s, Dr Birley's grandfather, Eric, found two skeletons under a floor in a house at nearby Housesteads fort, one of whom had a knife blade stuck in the ribs.