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 […]
Roman Empire
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Roman Military Camp Found at an Altitude of Over 2,000 Meters in the Swiss Alps
Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery high in the Swiss Alps: a Roman military camp located over 2,200 meters above sea level in the Colm la Runga area. This site, unknown until recently, offers new insights into Roman military strategy and the extent of Roman presence in the region over 2,000 years ago. The camp’s […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
The Romans Surrounded Masada with Towers and a Wall Over 4 Kilometers Long in Just Two Weeks
A recent archaeological study on the Roman siege system at Masada, published in the Journal of Roman Archaeology, reveals new and important findings about this historic conflict of the 1st century CE. An international team of researchers, led by Hai Ashkenazi from the Israel Antiquities Authority and Goethe University Frankfurt, has used cutting-edge technology to […]
Posted inAntiquity
Impressive Roman-era wall paintings, discovered at Ashkelon in the 1930s, revealed to the public for the first time
For the first time ever, two ancient vaulted tombs dating back at least 1,700 years, adorned with magnificent murals depicting Greek mythological figures, people, plants, and animals, will be unveiled to the public. This exciting initiative results from a collaboration between the Ashkelon Municipality and the Israel Antiquities Authority to develop and integrate the city’s […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Analysis of the “domus ecclesiae” at Dura Europos challenges the narrative of the material origins of early Christianity
For nearly a century, the structure known as the “Christian Building” in Dura-Europos has been heralded as a quintessential example of early Christian architecture. Dating back to around 232 CE, this building—located in the ancient Roman city of Dura-Europos in modern-day Syria—has long been considered the prototypical domus ecclesiae, or house church. This term describes […]
Posted inAncient Rome
Flavius Scorpus, the Hispanic Charioteer Who Won 2,048 Races Without Losing a Single One
Those who become fans of Those About to Die, a recent television series about gladiators directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Anthony Hopkins as Vespasian, will notice that among the main characters there is one who leads a rather wild life: the charioteer. This character is based on a real person who indeed lived during […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Two More Victims of the Eruption, Along with a Small Treasure of Coins and Precious Ornaments, Found in Pompeii
Discoveries continue in the excavation area of Regio IX, Insula 10 of Pompeii, where archaeological investigations are being carried out as part of a broader project aimed at securing the excavation fronts. The latest finding, for which an initial scientific overview was recently published in the Pompeii Excavations E-Journal, is a space where two victims […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Three Overlapping Thermae Complexes Discovered at the Late Imperial Roman Villa of Fiumana in Italy
In recent days, the third excavation campaign by the University of Parma at the archaeological site of the Roman villa of Fiumana, located in Predappio in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, has concluded. The excavations, led by Professor Riccardo Villicich, have uncovered a complex of extraordinary interest, confirming the data obtained in the first […]
Posted inAncient Rome
First Mention of the Word ‘Abracadabra’: in a Roman Medical Work from the 2nd Century AD
When we read or hear the expression Abracadabra, we immediately think of witchcraft, enchantments, magic, and things of that nature. Until a few years ago, many magicians used it in their performances, and possibly some still do. The word is not a modern invention; in fact, its age and origin are unknown. Some etymologies suggest […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Strange Burials of Roman Amphorae from the 1st Century AD Which Archaeologists Still Cannot Explain, Found in France
The archaeological operation on Rue des Communes, carried out from February to August 2023 by a team from Archeodunum led by Mr. Rodriguez, made it possible to study a district of the ancient settlement of Augustum. This settlement was probably occupied between the late 1st century BC and the 3rd/4th century AD. Despite the degraded […]