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A Roman laundry facility (fullonica) was discovered during recent construction in Rome near Vatican City, dating from the 1st to 2nd century AD. The excavations have revealed tile floors and washing tubs. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article289272850.html https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/dirty-laundry-ancient-washroom-dating-roman-empire-uncovered-vatican-italy

Fragments of Roman pottery, believed to date from the 5th century AD and of African origin, have been discovered in a cave in the Pyrenees mountains in Catalonia, Spain. Artifacts from the Bronze Age were also found. https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2024/06/a-cave-in-the-pyrenees-was-used-as-a-refuge-during-the-fall-of-the-western-roman-empire/

Thank you for reminding me that I had previously read the book. It had been such a long time that I had forgotten. I discovered extensive notes I had made in the book. The book is chock-full of anecdotes and historical references. I appreciated the numerous medical references and unique insights into Roman life. Several paragraphs discussed the different types of Roman kisses and public displays of attraction. Allegedly, Emperor Tiberius banned public kissing to curb the transmission of herpes, for example. The collection of epitaphs described is interesting: some are humorous and sarcastic, while others are romantic and moving. My only criticism of the book is its lack of footnotes, which I often rely on for additional research. I recommend this book highly.

A 1,500-year-old Roman armor has been restored. It is the only complete lorica squamata ever found. The armor was discovered in 2020 at the ancient city of Satala, Turkey. The picture below shows the armor soon after it was discovered, encased in dirt. https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/amazing-1500-year-old-roman-armor-restored-to-former-glory/ Some background information of the legionary fortress of Satala, near the modern city of Sadak, Turkey: https://www.livius.org/articles/place/satala-sadak/ Quick reminder of the types of Ancient armor: Lorica Segmentata (plate armor) Lorica Hamata (chain mail) Lorica Squamata (scale armor) Hastati Pectorale (heart protector) Byzantine Klivanion (lamellar armor) Byzantine Kadavion (padded gambeson) Location of the discovery

Is the book you're referring to "The Reach of Rome: A Journey Through the Lands of the Ancient Empire, Following a Coin" by Alberto Angela?

During an excavation in Carmona, Southern Spain in 2019, an intact reddish liquid was found in an urn. A study showed that it was likely white wine. Wine was often buried with food and water to accompany the deceased in the afterlife. The wine was discovered in one of the niches (L-8) of the mausoleum and could date back to the 1st or 2nd century AD. Below is a picture of the urn with the reddish liquid https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X24002645 https://m.jpost.com/archaeology/article-807136 There have been many previous posts about Roman wines:

Six intact Roman pots, dating back to the first or second century AD, were discovered during a community dig last summer. They will be displayed, and it is believed that some of the pottery may have come from France. https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/archaeological-dig-at-chester-house-unearths-fascinating-roman-discovery-as-university-of-leicester-student-finds-french-pots-4668121 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq551ye8dgqo

An ancient sarcophagus, estimated to be 3,500 years old, was discovered in Minya, Egypt. It features an image that bears a striking resemblance to Marge Simpson from the TV series "The Simpsons." https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/egypt-predicted-the-simpsons-3-500-years-ago-marge-simpson-depiction-appears-on-mummy-sarcophagus/ar-BB1oru4A#:~:text=A mummy's sarcophagus that was recently dug up,Marge Simpson%2C according to the New York Post. Archaeologists make huge discovery inside 3,500-year-old Egyptian mummy's sarcophagus (msn.com)

Between AD 350-353, Rome faced instability and rebellion. In pursuit of greater autonomy and in response to growing Christian intolerance, the Jews in Israel rebelled against Roman rule during this period of Roman weakness. This uprising, known as the Gallus Revolt, was directed against Constantius Gallus, the brother-in-law of Emperor Constantius II. The rebellion was ultimately suppressed by General Ursicinus, acting on behalf of Gallus. A hoard of coins dating back to the Gallus Revolt in AD 351-352 has been discovered in Lod, Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/ancient-lod-coin-hoard-reveals-details-of-little-known-4th-century-jewish-uprising/amp/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_revolt_against_Constantius_Gallus

This technical article discusses the discovery of what is believed to be Tyrian purple on the island of Aegina (shown above). The findings have led researchers to believe that a purple dye production workshop was on the island. Chemical studies on the die remnants support the theory that this pigment was derived from snails, not plants. This would support the idea that similar to Tyrian die, the pigment was derived from snails and not from plants. The discovery of almost 2000 shells from the Hexaplex genus, the source of Tyrian dye, further confirms the theory that this was a workshop for producing Tyrian dye. https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/colourant-chemistry-identifies-ancient-greek-workshop-for-tyrian-purple/4019652.article Archaeologists Find 3,600-Year-Old Site Making Ancient World's Prized Color (msn.com)

Modern-day Serbia is the birthplace of numerous Roman Emperors, with at least 16 originating from this region, ranking it second after Italy. Viminacium, a prominent Roman city, served as a significant military camp and the capital of Moesia Superior, now part of modern Serbia. At its zenith, it was estimated to house at least 45,000 inhabitants. The city likely featured a hippodrome, forum, palace, temples, an amphitheater, aqueducts, and baths. Archaeological excavations have recently focused on the Roman city of Viminacium. A triumphal arch, announced late last year, has been discovered in the city and attributed to Emperor Caracalla from the third century AD. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/serbian-archaeologists-unearth-roman-triumphal-arch-2024-01-23/

The color purple has long been a symbol of power and wealth in ancient civilizations (see post below). Recently, a purple-dye production workshop was unearthed on the Greek island of Aegina, dating back to the second millennium BCE. In ancient times, the color purple symbolized wealth, power, and royalty, largely due to Tyrian purple dye, produced by the Phoenicians in the city of Tyre during the Bronze Age. This dye was extracted from the secretions of mollusks like the spiny dye-murex and the banded dye-murex, found in the eastern Mediterranean and off Morocco's coast. The production process was laborious and complex, requiring up to 12,000 mollusks for just one gram of dye. The recipe was a closely guarded secret, involving the salting and fermenting of the snails' mucous for three days, followed by cooking in pots made of lead or tin. Owing to its costly and intricate production, the dye was exclusively used by the most affluent, such as royalty, priests, and nobility. https://www.sci.news/archaeology/purple-dye-workshop-greek-island-aegina-13015.html

Artifacts possibly associated with cult rituals have been discovered at the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica, Rome's ancient port. Numerous artifacts, dating back to the late 1st and 2nd centuries AD, were unearthed while draining a well. They were remarkably preserved due to the oxygen-deficient mud in which they were submerged. https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2024/06/rare-artifacts-and-remains-of-ritual-meals-found-in-a-well-at-ostia-antica-in-front-of-the-temple-of-hercules/#:~:text=The finding of burnt bones,in honor of the deity.

After genomic studies of ancient horses, it is now believed that humans first started riding horses about 4,200 years ago. It is thought that all domestic horses can trace their origins back to the Western Russian steppes from the 3rd millennium BCE. https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/archaeology/horse-riding-4200-years-ago/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07597-5

We have had many previous posts about the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, which destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Professor Tuck from Miami University has researched the fate of those who may have escaped from those ill-fated cities: https://theconversation.com/records-of-pompeiis-survivors-have-been-found-and-archaeologists-are-starting-to-understand-how-they-rebuilt-their-lives-230641 Dr. Tuck, one of the true giants of Pompeii archaeology, is seen below in the BBC documentary on the latest archaeology about Pompeii. (Video blocked by BBC)

I didn’t appreciate the size of the suspected villa until I saw the size of the man standing next to the pillar below for comparison:

Excavations continue in the Regio IX area of Pompeii (see post below). Recently, the discovery of a painted blue room was announced. Along with the frescoes painted on the walls, intact amphorae were uncovered. Numerous oyster shells were also unearthed. These shells were thought to have been used as part of the plaster or mortar mixture. https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/04/science/blue-sacrarium-pompeii-excavation-scli-intl-scn/index.html

Recent research shows that the water in Roman baths in Bath, England, have a unique biodiversity. Samples were found to contain Actinobacteria and Myxococcus, both of which have potential antibiotic properties. Actinobacteria derivatives create erythromycin, tetracycline, and vancomycin. Mycococcus secretes a novel compound with "antibiotic properties" and bacteriolytic enzymes to combat other bacteria. I wonder if the water at the baths in ancient times had a different biodiversity and whether it could have played a role in combating superficial skin infections, such as those suffered in battle or gladiatorial conflict. Physicochemical and metagenomic analysis of samples from the Roman Baths (Bath, UK) reveals high bacterial and archaeal diversity and a potential for antimicrobial discovery - ScienceDirect What Britain's famed Roman Baths could teach us about microbes | Popular Science (popsci.com) A nice video on the Roman baths at Bath, England

Previous posts have discussed how catastrophic changes in the Nile flow impacted history (see posts below). Here is an article describing the major shifts in the Nile 4000 years ago, which would influence the region's future development. The more technical article is below. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1046715 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01451-z

Thanks for reading. LoL. I took the picture from the second article and I needed to give them credit. I preferred the layout of the first article, however. (I hope it’s not a “stock photo” that is unrelated to the story.)

We have had many previous posts about the excavations at Herculaneum (see below). The is an unfortunate recent example of graffiti by a Dutch tourist defacing the site. https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2024/0603/1452787-herculaneum-graffiti/ https://uk.news.yahoo.com/news/dutch-tourist-accused-defacing-ancient-123508279.html?guccounter=1

Here a good video on the Battle of Frigidus. (You may need to put on the English translations for the video.)

Another article on the find: https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/05/39113684/unveiling-mayan-secrets-hallucinogens-in-ancient-ball-game-rituals

Childlike graffiti depicting gladiatorial imagery has been found in Pompeii. One drawing that outlines a small hand (see picture below) suggests that it was the work of a child between 6 and 7 years of age. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/05/graffiti-depicting-gladiators-found-during-pompeii-excavations/152088

Here is another article on the find. I had forgotten that this was the site of an ancient “pet cemetery” (see post below). https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/letters-written-by-ancient-roman-commanders-have-been-found-in-a-pet-cemetery-in-egypt-180984423/ Below is the release from the Polish scientists doing the research: https://naukawpolsce.pl/aktualnosci/news%2C102801%2Cegiptlisty-centurionow-znalezli-polscy-archeolodzy-w-berenike.html