A recent bioarchaeological study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports investigates the differences in lifestyle between urban and rural inhabitants of Roman Italy during the imperial period. The study, based on the analysis of skeletal remains from two distinct necropolises—one in the rural area of Contrada Nevola (Corinaldo) and the other in the […]
Roman Empire
Posted inClassical Archaeology, Iron Age Archaeology
An Impressive Arsenal of Weapons, a Chainmail, and a Roman Helmet Found in Denmark
During the Iron Age, between 1,500 and 2,000 years ago, a chieftain buried an arsenal of weapons sufficient to equip a small army in two structures located northwest of Hedensted, Denmark. Archaeologists have just discovered it in Løsning Søndermark. The find, which includes an impressive quantity of weapons, an exceptionally well-preserved chainmail, and parts of […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Roman Sanctuary with Inscriptions Discovered in a Deep Chamber of the Prehistoric Cova de les Dones in Spain
A team of researchers from the universities of Alicante (UA) and Zaragoza (Unizar) has identified a Roman sanctuary in the Cova de les Dones, located in the municipality of Millares, in the province of Valencia (Spain). This discovery, of great significance for understanding the Roman presence in the Iberian Peninsula, is situated in a deep […]
Posted inAncient Greece, Ancient Rome
Did Herodes Atticus Murder His Wife Appia Annia Regilla? A Strange Case in Which No One Was Convicted Thanks to the Protection of Marcus Aurelius
It was the year 160 AD when Appius Annius Atilius Bradua filed a complaint before the Roman Senate regarding the murder of his sister. The direct perpetrator of the crime was a freedman named Alcidemus, but Bradua was convinced that he had acted on the orders of his master. That master was none other than […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
A Spectacular Miniature Roman Gold Lock from the 3rd Century AD, Found in Germany
The discovery of a miniature Roman lock, smaller than a one-euro coin, was presented in Münster by the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe (LWL). This object, dating back to the 3rd or 4th century AD, stands out not only for its exceptionally small size—just 1.2 by 1.1 centimeters—but also for being a unique find in Europe. […]
Posted inAntiquity
Chrocus, the Alemannic Chieftain Who Destroyed All the Temples of Gaul in the 3rd Century
We have previously discussed the Crisis of the 3rd Century, that period of antiquity also known as the Anarchy of the 3rd Century because, for fifty years—from the assassination of Alexander Severus in 235 AD until the rise of Diocletian in 284—the Roman Empire was plunged into a destructive process that brought it to the […]
Posted inAncient Rome, Classical Archaeology
A Spectacular Roman Empire Criminal Case Unveiled Through a Newly Discovered Papyrus
A remarkable papyrus recently unearthed from the collections of the Israel Antiquities Authority offers unprecedented insights into Roman legal procedures and life in the Near East. Scholars from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the University of Vienna, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem collaborated to analyze this unique find, now published in the international academic […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
A mold used to produce Medusa masks dating back to the early 1st century BCE has been found in ancient Finziade, Sicily
In the town of Licata (the ancient Greek Finziade), Sicily, archaeologists have discovered a mask mold that, according to initial interpretations, could represent Medusa, the Greek mythological figure known for her petrifying gaze and snake-filled hair. This discovery was made during excavations in the so-called “House 18,” a building dating back to the late Republican […]
Posted inAncient Rome, Art
The Mosaic of the House of the Birds in Italica is the Most Complete and Varied Avian Representation in the Roman World
Located in the archaeological site of Itálica, in Seville (Spain), the so-called House of the Birds houses one of the most unique mosaics of Roman Hispania. This work of art, dating from the second half of the 2nd century AD, is a reflection of both the artistic virtuosity of the time and the fascination the […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
A Rare Boundary Stone from the Tetrarchy Period of the Roman Empire Contains Two Unknown Place Names
Archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have unearthed a rare Tetrarchic boundary stone at the site of Abel Beth Maacah, located in northern Israel. This remarkable find sheds light on the administrative practices of the Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, revealing details about the organization of territorial boundaries, land ownership, and […]
