Near St. Peter’s, an ancient burial site opens to the public

c. 2014 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) In the first century B.C., a grassy hillside just north of what is now St. Peter’s Square was used as a burial place for local Romans.

It remained in use through dozens of mudslides and avalanches, until the early fourth century A.D., when work on St. Peter’s Basilica began and the more than 1,000 graves were covered over. Soon after, it was forgotten as the construction of the Vatican City grew up around it.