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In AD 367, the Picts, Scotti, and Saxons launched attacks on Roman defenses in Britain. Dry summers are now believed to have led to famine and social pressures that precipitated the assaults. A recent study using oak tree-ring records suggests that severe drought was a catalyst for the Barbarian incursions, known as the Great Conspiracy (see Wikipedia article below). https://scienceblog.com/drought-toppled-roman-britain-before-barbarians/ https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/17/british-rebellion-against-roman-legions-caused-by-drought-research-finds#:~:text=The researchers identified no other,the Picts into northern Britain”. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-extreme-drought-contributed-barbarian-invasion.amp The academic article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-025-03925-4 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Conspiracy

After sharing on another site a story about a Vitellius aureus discovered in Britain and recently sold at auction (see the original UNRV post below), I received some pushback from the numismatic site Cointalk.com regarding Vitellius’s role in Britain. Here is my response. My response:

Fragments of a Roman wall painting have been unearthed in Villajoyosa, Spain. The villa’s foundation dates to the reign of Trajan (AD 98-117). Over 4,000 fragments of these wall paintings have been excavated. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/04/4000-fragments-of-roman-wall-paintings-unearthed-in-villajoyosa/154957

Approximately 4000 Roman-era bricks have been stored at a museum in Trier, Germany. They will finally be examined more closely after new research funding. Below is a brick with the stamp of Legio XXII Primigenia https://arkeonews.net/researchers-examine-4000-bricks-to-solve-the-secrets-of-an-ancient-roman-metropolis-of-trier/ https://aktuelles.uni-frankfurt.de/en/english/building-material-for-an-ancient-metropolis/ Here is the Wikipedia article on Legio XII Primigenia. The unit was first stationed in the Roman province of Germania Superior, guarding the Rhine border as part of the limes. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_XXII_Primigenia

Interesting point they make. Here’s the graph:

Here's a good video on why Britain doesn't speak a Latin-based language:

Ancient Celts meet Black Sabbath:

Here’s an interesting article showing the greater income inequality in the Han Dynasty than in the Roman Empire: https://phys.org/news/2025-04-economic-inequality-roman-empire-han.html#google_vignette Here is the academic article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58581-0

Little surprise that these statues are now part of a new exhibit in Pompeii “Being a woman in Pompeii.” https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/priestess-statue-found-preserved-within-the-walls-of-pompeii-necropolis-set-to-star-in-new-exhibit-on-roman-women/

A Roman gold coin (aureus) was found in a farmer's field near Dudley, England, in the West Midlands. It depicted the ill-fated Vitellius, one of the four Emperors who struggled for power in AD 69, “The Year of the Four Emperors,” following the death of Nero in AD 68. Suetonius described Vitellius as an obese glutton. Vitellius defeated Otho before Vespasian eventually killed him in Rome. Vitellius was Emperor of Rome for just eight months (April 19 to December 20, AD 69). Interestingly, the coin fetched just £4,700 (approximately $6000 US). This is an excellent piece of history that reflects the influence of Vitellius in Britain at the time of the turmoil: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mwm8nw914o A nice summary of the struggle for power after the death of Nero:

A well-preserved dog was found beneath a Roman stone foundation in Velzeke, Belgium. Although it is uncommon to discover such well-preserved bone from the Roman period in the local soil conditions, this dog was buried under a stone structure, shielding it from the elements. The 3,200-square-foot site where the remains were discovered: There is some suggestion that the dog was part of a ritual sacrifice. The Romans mostly looked at dogs as respected and protective animals. However, the sacrifice of dogs did occur in several Roman rituals and festivals: As mentioned in the article, the annual ritual of Supplicia Canum involved sacrificing dogs: Other festivals that involved sacrificing dogs were Robigalia and Lupercalia: Archaeologists discover well-preserved Roman dog in Belgium - The Jerusalem Post Ancient Roman Dog Unearthed Shockingly Intact In Belgium Here is an article from 1921, "The Dog as a Sacred Animal in Italy." A. M. Franklin: The Lupercalia • Chapter 8 Here is a pet dog that a family cherished (photo from the Getty Villa):

Pompeii is a destination I missed during my trips to Italy. This short video on the more than 40 public fountains of Pompeii is fascinating. This mundane but important engineering feat is incredible.

They probably didn’t have to wait in line too long. https://people.com/king-charles-queen-camilla-visit-colosseum-state-visit-italy-11709382

A few videos on find.

It has been announced that a necropolis of around 20-30 tombs has been discovered in Liternum, Southern Italy (near modern Giugliano in Campania). One of the tombs had an inscription of a suspected gladiator. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14579163/ancient-gladiators-lost-TOMB-2-000-years-Roman.html