Animals have accompanied humans in warfare practically since the domestication of dogs, serving as combat vehicles of the era, alongside chariots, horses, camels, and elephants. The latter can be considered the tanks of bygone times and are often depicted in illustrations and films, though almost always inaccurately: illustrations typically show them as enormous, the typical […]
Roman Empire
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Remains of a Mat-Making Workshop and a Restaurant Found at Pompeii
Recent excavations at the building complex of Insula I 14, 1/11-14 in Pompeii have revealed evidence of a mat-making workshop. The team of the Pompeii I.14 Project, a collaboration between Tulane University and the Parco Archeologico di Pompei, has been systematically excavating this area since 2022, uncovering the different phases of development of this sector […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Archaeologists Unearth Roman Villa with Indoor Pool in the Ancient City of Dyrrhachium in Albania
The present city of Durrës in Albania is the second most populous in the country. It was founded by Greek settlers from Corcyra (modern Corfu), who called it Epidamnos, in 627 BC and renamed Dyrrhachium by the Romans. Located in the center of the Albanian Adriatic coast, about 33 kilometers west of the capital, Tirana. […]
Posted inAncient Rome
Centuriation, the Complex Land Distribution System in Ancient Rome
It was the year 40 BC when the famous Virgil traveled to Rome from his estate in Mantua to meet with Octavius and demand the return of some expropriated lands given to a retired legionary. It wasn’t a punishment but a necessity to resort to such measure to acquire lands to give to the veterans, […]
Posted inArchaeology
Roman Settlement of Karanis Found to have Survived in Egypt Until the Arab Conquest in the 7th Century AD
A new study sheds light on the history of Karanis, an ancient Greco-Roman agricultural settlement in the Fayum oasis in Egypt. The results of the research suggest that this place may have been inhabited until the mid-7th century AD, challenging the previous belief that the site was abandoned in the mid-5th century. This finding suggests […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Three Roman-Era Lead Ingots Found at a Site in Southern Spain that May Have Housed a Mine, Smelting Facility, and Processing Area
Three lead ingots, about 45 centimeters long and weighing approximately between 24 and 32 kilograms, were discovered years ago during the construction of the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline at the Los Escoriales de Doña Rama site, located in Belmez, Córdoba (Spain). They are kept at the Belmez Museum and in private homes. These ingots, which are […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
First Ever Solid Fragment of Tyrian Purple, the Expensive Pigment Associated with Roman Emperors, Found
A significant archaeological discovery was made during the 2023 excavation at the site of an ancient Roman bathhouse in Carlisle, England. The dig, conducted by the Wardell Armstrong company, unearthed a small, mysterious piece of purple-colored substance, which later was identified as a fragment of Tyrian purple—the highly prized pigment once associated with Roman emperors. […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
“Triclinia” for Family Banquets and Libation Conduits Found in the Great Roman Necropolis of Narbo Martius with 1,430 Tombs
The archaeological excavation in the La Robine necropolis, near the ancient city of Narbo Martius (now Narbonne, France), has shed light on funerary and ritual practices of the early Roman Empire. The necropolis, located about 700 meters east of the ancient city, was discovered in a remarkable state of preservation, hidden under almost three meters […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
A 5th-Century Roman Shipwreck off the Coast of Mallorca Came from Cartagena and Carried “Liquaminis Flos”, a Fish Sauce
Recently, a team of archaeologists and researchers studied the remains of a late Roman shipwreck off the coast of Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The Ses Fontanelles shipwreck, discovered by chance in 2019 near one of the island’s busiest tourist beaches, has proven to be an exceptional find due to the excellent […]
Posted inAncient Rome
A Guided Tour of the Largest Handcrafted Model of Imperial Rome [Video]
“Il Plastico” is a model of ancient Rome created by Italian archaeologist and architect Italo Gismondi between 1933 and 1937, updated with archaeological discoveries until the early 1970s (it’s still being updated regularly today). The model represents the city of Rome in the 4th century during the reign of Emperor Constantine and is the flagship […]
