The urban organization of Durocortorum, the Gallo-Roman city now known as Reims in France, faithfully adhered to the principles of Roman urbanism. The city was divided into blocks bounded by streets arranged in an orthogonal grid converging at the forum, the nerve center of political and religious life. However, the areas farther from the city’s […]
Classical Archaeology
Through careful excavation of archaeological sites and analysis of artifacts, Classical archaeologists aim to better understand ancient Greek and Roman societies. They try to shed light on topics like daily life, religion, social structures, politics, trade and economics. Classical archaeology provides crucial insights into the origins and development of Western cultural traditions that emerged from these two influential ancient civilizations.
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New Geoarchaeological Evidence Challenges the Identification of Kalkriese Hill as the place of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
Kalkriese Hill, located in northwestern Germany, has been identified for decades as a potential site of the historic Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 CE, a decisive confrontation between Roman legions and a coalition of Germanic tribes led by Arminius. However, a new geoarchaeological study casts doubt on traditional interpretations of the linear structures […]
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The “Cella Vinaria” and Grounds of a Villa Where Famous 2nd Century Saguntine Wine Mentioned by Roman Writers Was Produced, discovered in Spain
Excavations conducted at the Sant Gregori site, located in the town of Burriana (Castellón, Spain), have brought to light significant remnants of a maritime villa from the Roman era that specialized in viticulture. This archaeological project, led by the Aula de Arqueología Mediterránea of the Universitat Jaume I de Castelló in collaboration with the Burriana […]
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Spectacular Bronze Statues and Thousands of Coins Found in the Etruscan-Roman Sanctuary of San Casciano dei Bagni
In the picturesque municipality of San Casciano dei Bagni, located in the Italian province of Siena, archaeological discoveries continue to shed light on the rich history of the Etruscan-Roman sanctuary of Bagno Grande. In 2002, this site revealed the largest collection of bronze statues from the Etruscan and Roman periods (article on our Spanish edition) […]
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1st century AD Underground Cisterns Found in Egypt, Surrounded by Vestiges of the Battle of El Alamein
The ancient ruins of Derhis (modern-day Darazya), located 100 kilometers west of Alexandria near the Gulf of the Arabs, represent a fascinating intersection of the classical world and 20th-century wartime remnants. This site, known since antiquity as Derhis and mentioned by authors such as Strabo and Ptolemy, stands out for its historical and archaeological significance. […]
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The Mystery of the Origin of Cinnabar in Ancient Ephesus: Analyses Reveal It Came from the Almadén Mines in Hispania and the Balkans
Ephesus, one of the most iconic cities of antiquity, renowned for its rich commercial and cultural history, has unveiled new secrets thanks to a study that connects Roman mural art with trade routes and pigment production techniques of the era. International researchers have analyzed samples of cinnabar (a bright red mineral used as a pigment) […]
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A Roman Chalice Preserved for Generations as a Family Heirloom Found in the Tomb of a Sixth-Century Woman in England
In 2018, during excavations carried out by the University of Sheffield in Scremby, Lincolnshire, an enamelled copper alloy chalice was discovered in a female grave dating from the 6th century AD. This object, known as the Scremby Chalice, stands out as a unique piece due to its antiquity, Roman origin, and its inclusion in an […]
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“Pulvis Puteolana” discovered in a 1st-Century CE Roman Hydraulic Structure Submerged in the Venetian Lagoon
An unprecedented finding in the San Felice Canal, located in the northern Venetian Lagoon, has unveiled the presence of a material used as an additive in Roman calcestruzzo: pulvis puteolana, a volcanic ash from the Phlegraean Fields near Naples. This discovery, documented by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Padua, the Ca’ […]
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The Enigmatic Roman Figurine Discovered in England Wearing a Type of Cloak Mentioned in Diocletian’s Edict of Maximum Prices
A team of archaeologists from the AOC Archaeology group made a unique find in 2018 in the village of Sandy, Bedfordshire, England. During excavations in an area that, during the Roman occupation, served as a cemetery and settlement, they unearthed a bronze figurine notable for its attire, symbolism, and craftsmanship. The area where the figurine […]
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Counterfeit Denarii Found in an Ancient Village Near a Roman Camp in Germany
In Delbrück-Bentfeld, a locality in the Paderborn district of Germany, a team of archaeologists supported by the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) is conducting excavations at what appears to be an ancient village inhabited during the first centuries A.D. This village, located just 1.5 kilometers from an ancient Roman military camp in Anreppen, is revealing valuable clues […]
