guy

Illegal metal detectorists who pillage protected historical sites at night are known as “nighthawks.” The Colchester site has become the latest target. (Several threads have been written before about this important Roman city. See below.) https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-65417465

It features well-preserved wooden wharf and quay structures https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clw9g3d153no

There has long been speculation about trade between India and the Roman Empire (see threads below). A statuette of Buddha, possibly associated with an Indian trader, has been found in the city of Berenike (Berenice Troglodytica), an Ancient Egyptian seaport on the western shore of the Red Sea (see map below). (Two Indian coins minted in the 2nd century AD were found at the site) https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/04/statue-depicting-buddha-found-in-ancient-egyptian-city/147109 Site of Berenike, Egypt on Red Sea

According to the Venerable Bede, writing in AD 731, the Picts originated in Scythia: http://irishhistorian.com/IrishHistoryLinks/Historical_Documents/Bede.html

(Scene from the movie “The Eagle”) A new DNA study now shows Picts were an indigenous peoples, not an immigrant tribe in the British Isles. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65423713 There have been previous thread on the Picts:

Best games for Roman fans: https://gamerant.com/games-fans-roman-history-recommendations/

The Roman presence in Arabia is poorly documented and understood. (Below is a previous thread on the Roman presence there.) Using Google Earth, researches have found evidence of three previously-undocumented Roman fortified camps in northern Arabia: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-65391574 https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-identify-three-new-roman-camps-in-arabia/

Evidence of Roman ruins, suggesting a Roman villa complex, have been found in the planned Southwick Court Fields home site, complicating excavation for the housing: (Roman pottery fragment found at site of Southwick Court Fields site) https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/23479989.roman-remains-found-southwick-court-fields-homes-site/ Here is a thread of a coin hoard found at nearby Cotswold:

Here’s a nice short on the famous Julius Caesar denarius:

A wonderful interview before a recent reenactment in Rome itself. (Be sure to put the subtitle auto translate to your preferred language.)

There have been several posts about Neanderthals in the past (see below). Here’s a good article about them: https://www.thecollector.com/who-were-the-neanderthals-why-are-they-important/

(Site of the newly-discovered Turret 3a at Hadrian’s Wall in Tyneside) While doing initial evaluation in 2015 for additional student housing in Tyneside, they found evidence of Hadrian’s Wall. This initiated studies to further evaluate the site, leading to the discovery of a Roman Turret known as 3a. (A turret is an observation tower and is numbered according to the Milecastle to the east along Hadrian’s Wall. There were usually two turrets between each Milecastle.) Below is a fascinating video exploring an urban excavation of Hadrian’s Wall and the discovery of Turret 3a: (The remains of Hadrian’s Wall were found near the student’s dormitories) (Depiction of the various turret-types discussed in the video.) (Reconstruction of a turret found at Vindolanda.) Here is an entertaining video about the turrets along Hadrian’s Wall.

A coin hoard was found in Livorno, Italy. It appears to be dated to the Roman civil war between Sulla and the Marians in 82 BCE. https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/2000-year-old-hoard-of-roman-coins-may-have-been-hidden-by-a-soldier-during-a-bloody-civil-war-in-italy

A Roman sanctuary and cemetery were found in Elewijt, Belgium. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/04/archaeologists-discover-roman-sanctuary-and-cemetery-in-belgium/147025 (The site of Elewijt, a Roman vicus or settlement)

Yes, you are correct. I guess I didn’t notice the date of the find, which predates the Roman conquest. Just as important, however, is the movie you linked reminded me of just how beautiful Sophia Loren was. Thanks. Here are a couple scenes from the movie:

Here's an interesting article by Lapham's Quarterly on Plutarch's (misogynistic) advice to a bride and groom from his Moralia: Forever Hold Your Peace | Lapham’s Quarterly (laphamsquarterly.org) Here are the 48 pieces of advice in their entirety: Reading (markbwilson.com)

A small counterbalance from the 1st century AD with the image of the Greek god Silenus has been found in Cockermouth, Northern England. (Silenus was rhe Greek god of wine and drunkenness.) (Cockermouth is about 300 miles or 500 km north of London)

An artist's impression of a Roman fortlet at a different location along the Antonine Wall A suspected Roman fortlet has been discovered along the Antonine Wall in Scotland: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-65309762 Clydebank, Scotland, site of recent discovery along Antonine Wall

Aerial orthophotograph of the Villa of the Quintilii winery building, indicating the treading area (A), press beds (B1 and B2), proposed press mechanism rooms (C1 and C2), collection vat (D), cella vinaria (E), and dining rooms (F1 and F2) (image by M.C.M s.r.l, modified from Frontoni et al. ) A winery thought to be build during the chaos of the third century has been excavated near Rome. This building complex suggests despite this period of societal disruption, the elites were able to continue their lavish lifestyles. https://theconversation.com/a-newly-uncovered-ancient-roman-winery-featured-marble-tiling-fountains-of-grape-juice-and-an-extreme-sense-of-luxury-199670 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/spectacle-of-production-a-roman-imperial-winery-at-the-villa-of-the-quintilii-rome/C3BFAFED7E6C5F14DBAFEB443EDB6CC2

(Like the dog remains examined, the French bulldog is brachycephalic. The dog remains were of a smaller dog, much like the French bulldog pictured.) Recent archaeological studies suggest that the Romans were among the first to breed brachycephalic (or flat-faced) dogs. Studies of dog remains in Turkey help confirm the theory. https://phys.org/news/2023-04-early-romans-flat-faced-dogs.html https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X2300144X Here is a previous thread about dogs in Ancient Rome:

Archaeological digs at Paestrum, located near the archaeological site of Pompeii, have resumed. A figurine of Eros, the Greek god of love, riding on a dolphin has been unearthed. https://news.sky.com/story/greek-god-of-love-and-sex-riding-a-dolphin-among-artefacts-unearthed-at-ancient-city-of-paestum-12858623 https://arkeonews.net/new-discoveries-at-ancient-greek-city-of-paestums-little-doric-temple-in-italy/

Investigation of a 6th century manuscript fragment revealed an earlier 3rd century Syriac translation of the Gospel. This is one of the earliest translations known. There have been other discussions of investigating palimpsests, finding interesting works (see below). [Palimpsest: a manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain.] https://www.oeaw.ac.at/en/news/new-testament-fragment-of-1750-year-old-translation-discovered https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/uv-light-reveals-hidden-never-before-seen-version-of-the-gospel-of-matthew-on-ancient-parchment

Roman roof tiles have been found at the excavation site at Micklegate, York. One can see the where nails were placed to secure the tiles. Below is a reconstructed house using Roman tiles. https://www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/newsblog/2023/elland-area-to-york-roman-roof-tiles-found-on-site

The silver ring's carved gemstone is a dark orange-red colour and "is probably a carnelian", experts said in their report to the Essex Coroner A Roman Apollo ring has been unearthed in Chelmsford. It maybe related to a nearby hoard known as the “Jeweler’s Hoard” found in 1985 (see below). The seal would leave an impression of Apollo holding a laurel wreath when pressed into wax (above) https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-65202077 Information about the earlier "Jeweler's Hoard": https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF1517-Snettisham-Roman-jeweller's-hoard-Roman-settlement-and-multi-period-finds&Index=1339&RecordCount=61672&SessionID=2d1bb9af-b092-4515-b65b-94a2f1dea22e https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-51400817

Here’s a funny commercial from the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. It’s Monty Pythonesque and deals with the Trojan horse story.