The Buried Roman Girl Under the Gherkin Skyscraper—Where Archaeology Meets City Lore
If you’ve ever walked past 30 St Mary Axe—the iconic glass skyscraper better known as the Gherkin—you’ve probably looked up in awe at its futuristic, swirling design. What you may not know is that beneath this gleaming symbol of modern London lies a haunting reminder of its ancient past: the grave of a Roman girl who lived, and died, nearly two thousand years ago.
It’s one of those stories that makes London endlessly fascinating—a place where the ultra-modern skyline is literally built on top of layers of history. Let’s dig (pun intended) into who this girl might have been, how she was discovered, and what her presence tells us about the Roman city that once stood where today’s financial hub thrives.
A Skyscraper With a Secret Beneath
The Gherkin was completed in 2004, but before foundations could be laid, teams from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) carried out excavations—standard procedure in a city where digging into the ground almost always means unearthing history.
During the dig in 1995–1996, archaeologists made a startling discovery: a Roman-era burial site. Among the finds was the skeleton of a young girl, believed to be around 13 years old. She had been laid to rest in a stone sarcophagus, a sign that her family may have had wealth or status in Roman Londinium.
Her grave wasn’t alone. The area around the Gherkin was once on the outskirts of Roman Londinium, which means it was used as a burial ground—Romans avoided burying the dead inside the city walls. Over time, hundreds of burials have been uncovered across the Square Mile.
Who Was the Roman Girl?
The truth is, we don’t know her name, her exact origins, or her story. But archaeology gives us clues.
Age: Osteological analysis suggests she was about 13.
Grave goods: Few personal items were found, which is common, but the sarcophagus itself implies privilege.
Cultural mix: Roman London was a melting pot, with residents from across the empire—Italy, Gaul, North Africa, the Middle East. The girl may have been local-born or part of an immigrant family.
Her burial offers a glimpse into how Roman families in Londinium dealt with death, status, and memory. It also highlights something deeply human: the urge to honour loved ones, even in a bustling frontier town of the empire.
Layers of London: From Londinium to the City
The Gherkin stands in the heart of the City of London’s financial district—one of the most modern places in the capital. Yet, underneath, the ground still carries echoes of Londinium, founded by the Romans around AD 47.
Back then, this area would have been just outside the city walls, making it prime land for cemeteries. Archaeologists working around Bishopsgate, Aldgate, and Fenchurch Street have all uncovered Roman burials, some richly decorated and others more modest.
So while office workers and bankers sip coffee in the shadow of the Gherkin today, they’re unknowingly walking over what was once a Roman necropolis.
Why Does This Story Resonate So Much?
Part of the fascination comes from the sheer contrast: a cutting-edge skyscraper symbolising London’s global future sitting right above the grave of a child from the city’s distant past.
It also touches on the theme of continuity. London has always been a city of arrivals, a place of opportunity and reinvention. The Roman girl buried under what is now one of London’s most photographed landmarks connects us with those who lived, hoped, and struggled here long before us.
And then there’s the mystery. We’ll never truly know her story, but the fact that she’s remembered—even through archaeology—means she still has a place in London’s narrative.
Can You See the Roman Girl’s Burial Today?
Sadly, no—the burial itself isn’t on public display. After excavation, remains like hers are typically studied and then reburied or stored respectfully by museums. However, the Museum of London (currently moving to its new site at Smithfield, reopening in 2026 as The London Museum) has displayed Roman burials, sarcophagi, and artefacts from similar sites.
If you want to walk in her footsteps:
30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin) is your landmark. Even though you can’t see the burial, just standing there and knowing what’s beneath adds a whole new dimension.
London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE nearby showcases another Roman discovery—the Temple of Mithras, also found beneath a modern office.
The Museum of London Docklands has galleries dedicated to Roman London, including everyday life and funerary practices.
Why Archaeology Still Matters in Modern London
London is constantly changing—new towers rise, Crossrail tunnels are bored, redevelopment is constant. But each time the ground is broken, there’s a chance of rediscovering a piece of its past.
The story of the Roman girl under the Gherkin reminds us that history isn’t just in textbooks or museums—it’s literally under our feet. Every tube journey, every office block, every pub could be built on top of someone’s ancient story.
It also raises ethical questions: How do we treat the dead of past civilizations? How do we balance development with preservation? In London, the answer has usually been to excavate thoroughly, document carefully, and then allow the city to grow.
Final Thoughts
Next time you see the Gherkin’s glistening glass exterior catching the sunlight, remember that it isn’t just a symbol of corporate London. Beneath it lies a quiet reminder of a girl who lived nearly two millennia ago, when this place was still a Roman outpost on the edge of empire.
It’s stories like these that make London so endlessly layered and compelling. The city isn’t just about landmarks and skylines—it’s about people, past and present, whose lives intertwine across centuries.
London is full of stories waiting to be uncovered—sometimes literally. If you’re as fascinated by the hidden layers of this city as I am, keep exploring, keep asking questions, and never take the ground you’re walking on for granted.
Follow me for more deep dives into London’s secret history, from lost railways and ancient temples to hidden cemeteries and architectural oddities. Because in London, there’s always another story waiting just beneath the surface.