guy

Claudius died in AD 54, only a few years before the eruption (AD 79), and I wonder whether Claudius’ works had a widespread readership. If so, his works on Carthage and the Etruscans could be found among the scrolls in Herculaneum. They would certainly give great insights into two relatively unknown civilizations.

A Punic necropolis was found in Sardinia during construction excavations. Six amphorae, dating to the 4th and 3rd century BCE, were discovered and contained bones from both adults and children. The Carthaginians had a presence in Sardinia for more than two centuries, ending with the Roman conquest in 238 BCE. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/03/punic-necropolis-discovered-during-gas-construction-works/154692

The suitcase of Howard Carter, the man who discovered King Tutankhamen in 1915, went up for auction, bringing in 12,000 pounds https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24991216.howard-carters-battered-suitcase-sells-12-000/

I will express this with as much "cultural sensitivity" as I can muster these days: The potential for rich and extensive literature and philosophy that provides excellent insight into the Greco-Roman world makes deciphering these scrolls exciting. Although many ancient cultures produced abundant written material, much of it consists of bureaucratic writings like tax statements and other governmental documents. Some poetry from a militaristic culture like the Aztecs, for example, is quite simplistic and unappealing: My heart is a flower, it bursts open, Lord of Midnight, Oaya ouayaye. Already the Goddess has come, our Earthmother has come, Oaya ouayaye. The god of corn, born in Paradise, where flowers bloom, on the day One Flower, Yantala yantata ayyao ayyaue tilili yyao ayaue oayyaue. Aztec Poetry (2): Three Poems

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/03/wine-god-fresco-unearthed-in-pompeii/

Historians have long wondered whether the Huns were derived from the Xiongnu, a group of steppe nomads who threatened China's northern and western borders between 200 and 100 BCE. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/who-were-the-huns-who-invaded-rome-a-new-study-has-revealed-surprising-genetic-diversity-180986143/ Article on the cranial modification of the Xiongnu. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1040618214009033

Here's an interesting video on the naming and numbering of the Roman legions

A previously unknown Roman village complex has emerged from the waters of Lake Fusaro near Naples as a result of the phenomenon of geological uplift known as bradysism. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/03/submerged-roman-villa-emerges-in-lake-fusaro/154643 https://archaeologymag.com/2025/03/roman-villa-emerges-from-lake-fusaro/

Here is a scientific article on the transformation of a human brain to glass at Herculaneum as a result of the Vesuvius eruption in AD 79. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-88894-5 A less technical article of the find: Ancient Roman guard’s brain turned to glass after Vesuvius eruption

Almost life-sized frescoes dedicated to the Cult of Dionysus were recently found in Pompeii. Dionysus is the Greek god associated with wine, fertility, theatre and religious ecstasy. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/frescoes-frieze-pompeii-italy-discovery-b2705115.html Videos on Dionysus

Another nice article on the most recent research on the Colchester Vase: https://arkeonews.net/the-colchester-vase-new-analyses-uncover-evidence-of-gladiatorial-combat-in-roman-britannia/ https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/britannia/article/gladiators-at-roman-colchester-reinterpreting-the-colchester-vase/6EE3B8C3EB3F6D93423C83E9FA018976

A recent Wall Street Journal article claims that when the Clean Air Act was passed in the United States in 1970 to regulate lead and other air-borne pollutants, children were exposed to even higher levels of lead toxicity, with up to a seven-point IQ decrease. Ice core samples from places like Greenland were used to study the deposits of lead from the Roman era. https://www.dri.edu/lead-pollution-likely-caused-widespread-iq-declinesin-ancient-rome/ https://today.duke.edu/2022/03/lead-exposure-last-century-shrunk-iq-scores-half-americans

Interesting point. As mentioned in the post below, I should add that horses in the ancient world were smaller (and likely slower). Additionally, the riders did not have stirrups.

Here’s an interesting article about the potential effects of lead. The research suggests that the lead levels had a potential 3-IQ point decrease during the height of lead exposure. https://search.app/fsLmsBzxEYmhKBkR9

Roberto Trizio is one of the most impassioned Roman historians on YouTube. However, I think you may have misunderstood what he said. He believes a letter could travel 270 km (170 miles) daily. Florence is 170 miles north of Rome (driving) Milan is 350 miles north of Rome (driving) Paris is 880 miles north of Rome (driving) Hadrian's Wall is 1400 miles north of Rome (driving) However, he believes that a letter from Rome to Caesar in Gaul could have reached him in three days. So, let's assume the best weather and logistics would allow a travel distance about 500 miles away, approximately to Lucerne, Switzerland. (it should be remembered that Milan was part of Cisalpine Gaul during Caesar's time, however.)

Although originally discovers in the mid-19th century, Baden-Baden’s Roman baths, known as Aurelia Aquensis, are being invested after long neglect. These baths were supplied by geothermal waters. Replacement of modern water pipes gave investigators a chance to examine the historic site closer. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/02/archaeologists-revisit-baden-badens-roman-imperial-baths-after-180-years/154566

Here’s an intriguing article about the innovative use of cervical cytology swabs to noninvasively date parchment manuscripts by detecting DNA. Manuscripts dating as far back as AD 700 have been examined. Parchment is a writing material made from the skins of animals (primarily sheep, calves, and goats). Although it has been used for over two millennia, parchment slowly replaced papyrus beginning in the second century AD, and by the fifth century AD, it was preferred over papyrus as access to quality Egyptian papyrus was constrained. Honestly, this technique seems simple enough, and I’m surprised it wasn’t used earlier. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-cytology-decipher-dna-parchment-pages.html

A Roman spatha has been found (in three pieces) in Southern Poland. https://notesfrompoland.com/2025/02/13/roman-sword-discovered-in-poland/#:~:text=A Roman sword dating back,Częstochowa after undergoing conservation work. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/02/detectorists-find-roman-sword-while-searching-for-ww2-relics/154561 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spatha

These ancient coin casts are now on display in Castleford. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8yer43562o

There were a few posts on this subject in the distant past (see below): The Wikipedia entry on the cursus publicus, the state mandated courier system of the Roman Empire, was pretty good, also. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursus_publicus A good video by Garrett Ryan that adds insight to your question.

London's first basilica, dating back to AD 80, was discovered during excavations at the site of a recently demolished office building. It is believed that the basilica was in use for only about 20 years. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2jdnv0ywyo

Archaeologists unearthed a Roman mask mold dated to between 133 and 31 B.C. at the site of Finziade in southwestern Sicily, in a building that may have been a mask workshop. The mold is thought to depict the mythological Greek gorgon Medusa. Archaeologists Uncover 2,000-Year-Old Mask Mould Believed to Depict Medusa Archaeologists Uncover Roman Mask Mold Depicting Medusa, Say It Was Used as a Protective Charm

A suspected Roman soldier from the 2nd to 3rd century AD has been discovered in Spain. (Legio VII is reportedly the only Roman legion stationed in that region then.) A Roman pugio (dagger) has also been found at the site. It was suggested that the pugio had been placed near the victim's back, possibly a symbolic part of a punishment. Man buried with Roman pugio found at ancient fortress Copper Age fortress, odd Roman burial found in Spain – The History Blog Roman soldier found buried face down with a dagger on his back in newly revealed fortress in Spain

Here’s a good video on Constantine III, the great rival usurper of that era, who was defeated by Constantius III: