Ljubljana, 25 March - After stumbling on a wall from the Roman period that nobody knew existed, archaeologists overseeing constructions works on Ljubljana's main avenue have came across another exciting find from Roman times. They uncovered a well preserved grave from the first century A.D.

While the wall running along the road leading to Roman Emona and separating it from a graveyard outside the city walls had been an unexpected find, archaeologists knew they would stubble on a grave or two as part of the project.

But what is special about this discovery is that the Roman grave contained a stone chest, the head of the excavation, Martin Horvat, told the STA on Wednesday.

The chest, covered with a stone slab, kept intact all objects that were placed in the tomb to help the deceased travel to the afterlife.

Archaeologists found several glass artefacts in the chest, including a glass urn containing the ashes of the deceased. Horvat said that atmospheric water had been preserved in the chest the whole time.

The 2,000-year-old tomb is one of the oldest Emona tombs uncovered to date, Horvat noted, adding that two other graves had also been found.

All three graves have already been documented, so now objects found in them are being extracted. The two graves contained various pieces of ceramics and two glass vessels which contained tears of those in mourning.

A team of 50 to 60 people, including five to seven archaeologists, is working on the Slovenska ulica street, which was closed for renovation of the sewage system pipeline.

The archaeological finds, which are an inevitable part of any construction works in the centre of Ljubljana, delayed the opening of the street.

What is today Slovenske cesta used to be one of the main roads leading into settlements existing in the area of the present-day Ljubljana since pre-history.

In Emona, it was one of the three main avenues. As customary, a graveyard was located along the road, just outside the city walls.