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There is a theory that a giant asteroid impact in the Yucatán changed the planet enough to cause the dinosaurs’ extinction. Studies have recently further pinpointed the date of the impact. The Chicxulub asteroid collision is the leading theory for the dinosaurs’ extinction, replacing some earlier theories: https://phys.org/news/2021-12-chicxulub-asteroid-impact.amp https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-an-asteroid-caused-extinction-of-dinosaurs.html

Here's an excellent summary of the find: https://www.ancientpages.com/2021/12/09/2700-year-old-equestrian-armor-in-assyrian-style-leather-evidence-of-technology-transfer-in-antiquity/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=chilling_story_of_glamr_beware_of_the_shapeshifting_gaelic_bodach_volcanic_winter_likely_contributed_to_ecological_catastrophe_and_much_more_dec_3_09_2021&utm_term=2021-12-09

It is not surprising that military technology was disseminated throughout the ancient world: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/leather-scale-armour-proves-technology-transfer-occurred-in-antiquity/142195?amp

Narbonne, France was the site of the important Roman Colonia Narbo Martius. As would be expected, it is also the site of rich archaeological finds. The newly-opened museum in Narbonne looks exciting. https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/fosters-roman-antiquities-museum-set-to-open/5115156.article

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-59569629 https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/romancrucifixion

Here is a previous thread on retrieving the looted Gilgamesh tablet from display in America. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59561151 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_of_Gilgamesh

Here is an excellent review video on Roman coinage for us non-numismatists by the excellent numismatist and historian Guy da la Bódoyère:

I’m surprised that the volcanic activity continues more than two months later:

New excavations of Herculaneum have yielded a body on the beach, apparently trying to escape the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius. Herculaneum had previously been the site of excavation during the 1980-90s of about three hundred bodies found in and around boat sheds. This latest find is unusual in that the body was found on the beach, away from the shelter of the boat sheds. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/archaeologists-find-victim-of-vesuvius-eruption-on-herculaneum-beach/142152?amp https://amp.theguardian.com/science/2021/oct/15/sensational-skeleton-buried-in-vesuvius-eruption-found-at-herculaneum https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/12/partially-mutilated-herculaneum-skeleton-was-fugitive-of-vesuvius-eruption/?amp=1 https://www.livescience.com/amp/skeleton-vesuvius-victim-discovered

This is an interesting old thread, for sure. Constantine is to Christianity what Henry VIII is to Protestant Anglicism. Although neither man is an exemplar of the faith they promoted, both were essential for the change in the religious trajectory of their time. Both men were opportunists who used a less powerful church to achieve their goals against entrenched elites. Novosedoff: Although I may agree with your point, the anecdote you highlighted showing Constantine’s viciousness was in 306 AD, six years before his conversion to Christianity. Finally, I always found Constantine’s deathbed Christian baptism very indicative of his faith. He was baptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia, an Arian Christian whose faith was condemned by Constantine’s own First Counsel of Nicaea that occurred just a few years before his death.

Good question. I would guess that the fermentation of the dark red or purple grapes involved in making red wine might make the antioxidants (such as resveratrol) more bioavailable than in juice. I can’t find any definitive study proving that hypothesis, however. Red wine has more antioxidants than white wine. The skin, which is rich in antioxidants, is used in the fermentation process of red wine. White wine, on the other hand, is frequently made with lighter colored grapes, and the skins are separated from the juice before the fermentation process.

The St. Barbe Museum in Lymington, England, is aiming to raise sufficient funds to retain a recently discovered hoard of Celtic coins within the local museum. The three amateur metal detection enthusiasts used Google Earth to focus their searches. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-59466710 https://www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk/news/appeal-over-2-000-year-old-celtic-coins-found-buried-in-new-9227496/

There have been a few discussions on Roman wine drinking (see link below). Max Miller does an excellent job describing wine preparation and consumption in the video below, citing ancient Roman sources: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/wine/wine.html https://www.unrv.com/economy/wine.php

This article challenges my previous notions of what the ancient Andeans ate. I had believed that corn and fish (from the local Lake Titicaca) would have been staples of their diet. This study suggests otherwise: Quinoa, potatoes, and llama were, instead. https://phys.org/news/2021-11-superfoods-fueled-ancient-andeans-years.html Summary: This is an interesting article that discusses using modern technology to determine ancient diets. I am, however, somewhat skeptical of the findings. I am surprised that fish, a readily available and highly nutritious food source, was not a daily staple. Could it be possible that the amino acid analysis failed to detect fish consumption? I would like to see the study more closely and learn more about the studies’ limitations.

Kieth Richards has a unique guitar sound and style. He mostly plays with just five strings (and an open-G tuning):

There was an interesting recent exhibit on Nero that reevaluated his legacy: I always believed that Nero was much more popular among the masses in the East than he was among the ruling elite in Rome. This would explain the many Nero impersonators (like the modern day Elvis) soon after his death. Here’s a good article on the phenomenon: https://eidolon.pub/the-return-of-the-king-60872b233a2d

We have had previous threads about the food and diets of Ancient Rome. The article linked below supports the consumption of tea in China centuries before the Roman Empire. The argument has been, however, that tea was only a more modern import to Europe (in the 17th century). https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-12-02/Archaeological-finding-traces-Chinese-tea-culture-back-to-400-BC-15F607k9E5i/ We know, however, that there was at least medicinal tea in Ancient Greece: The above article and thread make me reconsider whether tea was drunk in Ancient Rome or not. Here is an older thread on the debate:

The digital facial reconstruction of the Bronze Age woman wearing the diadem. (Image credit: Copyright Joana Bruno/ASOME/Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) With modern computer digital reconstruction using skull fragments and jewelry, archaeologists have been able to reconstruct the facial features of a Bronze Age woman. https://www.livescience.com/facial-reconstruction-bronze-age-diadem-woman

An excellent essay on the silphium: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3166/1/3166_1191.pdf?UkUDh:CyT

More than a decade ago, we had a vigorous discussion about the plant silphium (see link below). In this video, Chef Max Miller discusses the use of silphium in ancient Roman cuisine, as well as its historical background.

I see that a gold Constantius III solidus went for more than $81,000 in 2009. Rare, indeed. Constantius III, 8th February – 2nd September 421, Solidus, Ravenna 421, AV 4.46 g. D N CONSTAN – TIVS P F AVG Rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORI – A AVGGG Emperor standing facing, head r., holding standard and Victory on globe, spurning captive with his l. foot; in field, R – V. In exergue, https://www.icollector.com/Roman-Emp-Constantius-III-Solidus-421_i8604883

https://observer.com/2021/11/a-scotsmans-beloved-hamilton-aphrodite-is-going-up-for-auction-at-sothebys/amp/ https://www.sothebys.com/en/digital-catalogues/the-hamilton-aphrodite

The A66 is a major motorway in Northern England. It follows a major Roman road. Not surprisingly, excavation of the A66 is yielding new insights into the underlying ancient Roman roadway. “Since the start of November, they have been making their way through over 1,250 trial trenches as part of extensive surveys which are being carried out to analyse the archaeology along this northern trans-Pennine stretch.The A66 follows an old Roman road, which lends added significance to gaining an understanding of the archaeology along the proposed route.“ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/digging-for-roman-riches-on-trans-pennine-route Here is a discovery of a ancient Roman grave during work on the A66 a few years ago: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-45718612.amp

A wonderful find of Bronze Age axes and artifacts have been discovered by a young teenager and her father: “Milly Hardwick was searching for buried treasure in a field in Hertfordshire, England, when her metal detector pinged. The 13-year-old’s father, Colin, joked that she’d found an ax. He was partially right: Hardwick had, in fact, stumbled onto a trove of 65 Bronze Age axes and artifacts dated to around 1300 B.C.E.” https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/13-year-old-girl-finds-bronze-age-axe-hoard-in-english-field-180979132/

Through the use of robotics and computer analysis, archaeologists are hoping to piece together the thousands of shards of mosaics and pottery found in Pompeii: