In the waters of the river near the Roman town of Corbridge, at Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland, a knife handle shaped like a Roman gladiator has come to light. This unique piece, crafted from copper alloy and intricately sculpted, represents a gladiator of the secutor type, famed for their impressive strength and heavy equipment. The discovery […]
Britain
Posted inMedieval Archaeology
Archaeologists Are Not Finding Late Roman and Anglo-Saxon Burials from the 5th Century in England – Where Are the Bodies?
A recent archaeological study explores an enigmatic question about the “missing” dead of the 5th century in Britain. A team of researchers, led by Emma Brownlee of the University of Cambridge and Alison Klevnäs of Uppsala University, has proposed a novel hypothesis: many bodies from this era may have been disposed of through methods that […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
How Much Did It Cost to Transport Goods in the Roman World? A Study Focused on Britain Reveals That Maritime Routes Were the Cheapest
A study recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science has analyzed the relative costs of transporting goods by different means in late Roman Britain, challenging some long-held notions about the economy of the Roman Empire. The research team, led by Rob Wiseman from the University of Cambridge, has developed a novel method for calculating […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Analysis Reveals how Roman Surgeons Used Medical Instruments Found in Ancient Britain
Advanced archaeological technology has brought to light the intricate design and craftsmanship of Roman surgical instruments used 2,000 years ago. Researchers utilized a CT scanner to examine six medical implements, including a bronze scalpel handle that was once employed in surgical procedures. The study was conducted at the SHArD 3D Lab at the University of […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
The Economy of Ancient Britain Grew Surprisingly After the Roman Conquest
A recent study has revealed surprising findings about how the economy in ancient Britain grew during the Roman era. The findings, published in the prestigious journal Science Advances, challenge the traditional belief that ancient economies were incapable of increasing their efficiency in a sustained manner. The study focused on economic growth in Roman Britain, a […]
Posted inAncient Rome
The Great Conspiracy: The Coordinated Attack of Barbarian Tribes on the Romans in Britain and Northern Gaul
As we know, Valentia Edenatorum is the name the Romans gave to the colony founded in 138 B.C. along the Turia River in the Spanish Levante, meaning Valor of the Edetani. However, the term valentia was commonly used in colonial foundations because it referred to military virtues, which is why it appears in other locations […]
Posted inAncient Rome
Paulus Catena, the Roman Imperial Agent Specializing in Interrogation and Creation of False Evidence
In the Late Roman Empire, in the mid-4th century AD, there was an imperial delegate with such a despotic, cruel, and repressive character that not only earned him the fitting nickname by which he has passed into history but also, sent to Britain to eliminate opponents, carried out that mission with such brutality that destabilized […]
Posted inMiddle Ages
Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, the Medieval Welsh Princess who Led an Army against Norman Invaders
While there is no shortage of examples – some very famous – generally, women have not been prominent in military history because, traditionally, the profession of arms has been exercised by men. This is why cases in which women have led battles or led armies often attract attention. One of the most significant, yet less […]
Posted inArchaeology
Tooth Analysis Reveals Sarmatian Child Traveled Thousands of Miles to Britain in Roman Times
In 2017, archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) were excavating land near the village of Offord Cluny in Cambridgeshire, England. Among the 42 burials they uncovered was one that would reveal an intriguing story. MOLA studied the remains along with researchers from the Francis Crick Institute and Durham University Archaeology Department. Their analyses […]
Posted inMiddle Ages
Battle of Mons Badonicus, the first documentary reference to King Arthur
No matter how many novels and films have dealt with his figure, some in a fantastic tone, others more realistic, it is very difficult to establish King Arthur’s degree of historicity. Some historians consider him to be more myth than anything else, while others believe they see a series of authentic characters that could have […]
