Six Nations 2011: Stadio Flaminio dig to reveal Roman 'City of the

[Melvadius]

Strangely enough this sports related (Rugby Six Nations) article in the Guardian really does provide some insight into Roman burial practices although mainly aimed at the sporting fraternity.

 

The archaeologist stares down into the enormous hole that edges up to the back of Rome's rugby stadium and gestures helplessly. "Make no mistake, this Roman necropolis we have found stretches right under the pitch."

 

Marina Piranomonte is talking about the Stadio Flaminio, after seeing how the "City of the Dead" she has dug up behind Gate 7 has fared under the winter rains. With 23 funeral inscriptions, dozens of bronze coins, oil lamps and more than 1,000 ceramic fragments found since digging started in 2008, Piranomonte believes the necropolis could be "immense," containing up to 50 tombs linked by a grid of streets.

 

"The Via Flaminia [an ancient Roman road] is 120 metres that way," she says, waving at a line of parked cars and modern housing. "It's possible the necropolis extends that far." Turning, she points across the stadium car park. "About 800 metres that way some tombs, spotted during a dig in the 19th century, could form part of the complex....continued

 

BTW I wonder what the percentage chance is of the archaeological team being allowed to extend the excavations a little bit more 'that away' under the stadium

[Viggen]

...nice find in the sports section!