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A suspected child’s shoe from the Iron Age salt mine in Austria has been discovered during recent excavations. The shoe, made from leather, was discovered in a mining tunnel. It is believed the salty microenvironment of the surrounding mine helped to preserve the organic material of the shoe. Although I find this to be a fascinating discovery, much of the hype around the story is the assumption that this was not an adult’s shoe, instead. A child’s size 30 in Europe is equivalent to a 7.25” in the US (US size 12.5 and U.K. 11.5 children’s). https://arkeonews.net/extremely-well-preserved-2000-year-old-childs-leather-shoe-discovered-during-archaeological-mine-excavations/ https://footwearnews.com/fashion/fashion-news/children-preserved-shoe-museum-iron-age-1203511657/

Unusual archaeological finds in a poorly documented city in the Roman Republic have been announced during excavations in La Cabañeta, Spain. It is thought to have been destroyed during the Sertorian War around 70 BCE. Some of the finds include a possible forum, a warehouse, and thermal baths. https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-08-31/the-oldest-roman-forum-in-hispania-has-been-found-in-zaragoza.html

A 6’3” headless bronze statue thought to be Marcus Aurelius has been ordered to be returned to Turkey from the Cleveland Museum. It is thought to have been looted from Turkey and obtained illegally by the museum in 1968. https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/08/new-york-authorities-order-seizure-of-ancient-statue-at-cleveland-museum-of-art-possibly-connected-to-looting-trafficking-of-antiquities-in-turkey.html?outputType=amp https://mynorthwest.com/3926382/statue-believed-to-depict-marcus-aurelius-seized-from-cleveland-museum-in-looting-investigation/

Roman temple ruins from the first century BCE in the Italian city of Sarsina in Northern Italy, close to the Tuscan border. Researchers believe they have found a capitolium. According to Wikipedia, a capitolium was a Roman temple dedicated to the Capitoline Triad of gods (Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva). It would have a separate chamber dedicated to each god. Capitolia were built in a prominent area in many cities in Italy and in the Roman provinces, especially during the Augustan and Julio-Claudian periods. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitolium https://edition.cnn.com/style/ancient-roman-temple-sarsina-supermarket-scn/index.html

Eboracum Roman Festival 2023 York has had many recent Roman finds. A Roman legionary stronghold was established in the first century AD and the civilian town was known as Eboracum. (Interestingly, two Roman emperors died at Eboracum: Septimius Severus in AD 211 and Constantius Chlorus in 306.) Planned excavations to extend the Ibis Hotel in York will take in consideration that a Roman community once existed at the site. https://yorkmix.com/experts-to-hunt-for-roman-graveyard-under-york-hotel/ Previous posts about York:

Israeli archeologists have uncovered a 300-meter-long (984-foot) section of an ancient aqueduct thought possibly built by Pontius Pilate. It was thought to have been heavily damaged during the First Jewish-Roman War (66-73) and later repaired by the Romans. Twenty-five coins in the plaster have been uncovered, too. It is thought they were placed there as a good luck charm. https://www.timesofisrael.com/300-meter-stretch-of-aqueduct-from-late-second-temple-period-uncovered-in-jerusalem/amp/ https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-08-29/ty-article/longest-stretch-of-ancient-jerusalems-upper-aqueduct-revealed/0000018a-4168-d435-a59e-cfeaaed40000

A large Gothic cemetery dating to the fourth century AD has been discovered in Northern Poland. The site has at least fifty Gothic graves and many silver items have been recovered: https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/vast-gothic-cemetery-brimming-with-grave-goods-and-ornate-silver-jewelry-discovered-in-poland

It’s been a while since we mentioned Pytheas of Massalia (writing in the fourth century BCE), an explorer from the Greek colony of modern Marseille in Southern France. Although his original writings were lost, he was referred to by many ancient writers such as Strabo. Pytheas may have had the first written description of Britain. He may also have been the first to have called the people of Britain “the painted ones” or the “tattooed folk,” derived from a Celtic term. The recent discovery of several hundred ochre fragments at a 6,500-year-old ceremonial site near Carlisle, England seems to confirm the description of the Celts’ body painting: https://greekreporter.com/2023/08/26/archaeological-find-supports-ancient-greek-explorers-account-britons/

Roman cup inscribed with “Avoca te” meaning “Enjoy yourself” or “Have fun” A wonderful and unique Roman drinking cup has been found in the modern Belgium city of Mortsel. (Thanks Dr. Tom for bringing this find to my attention.) https://www.brusselstimes.com/art-culture/653877/new-roman-phrase-discovered-on-unique-drinking-cup-in-antwerpA https://www.belganewsagency.eu/archaeologists-discover-new-roman-phrase-on-ancient-cup-in-mortsel

A large Roman complex has been found in Cham, Switzerland: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/08/archaeologists-uncover-large-roman-complex-in-gravel-quarry/148387

The Romans enjoyed eating eggs. Maybe not surprising, they sometimes used honey in their egg dishes. Here is Apicus’ description of egg preparation with honey from his cookbook De re coquinaria. (Although the cookbook is attributed to Apicius of the first century AD, it was thought to be compiled in the fifth century AD.) Here is the recipe for ova sphongia ex lacte (spongy eggs made with milk): https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Apicius/7*.html https://historicalitaliancooking.home.blog/english/recipes/ancient-roman-dessert-ova-spongia-ex-lacte-sweet-omelette/ Here is a video on the preparation of this sweet omelette:

There have been several threads before on the formidable Balearic slingers (see below). Here’s a nice short video on them:

There have been numerous posts about the destruction of the library of Alexandria (see below). Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook had an interesting discussion about that subject on their recent podcast “The Rest is History.”

This is a wonderful time to be delving into the more confusing Crisis of the Third Century in Roman history. There are now many resources (including UNRV) to use. YouTube is filled with great work on the period, also. Fortunately, your numismatic interest is in the coinage of Philip the Arab. Coins related to him and his reign are diverse and surprisingly affordable. Good luck in your endeavors and please share any research with us.

A section of the aqueduct of Caesarea in Israel recently collapsed. Originally built by Herod the Great, it was the later expansion by Emperor Hadrian that collapsed. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.timesofisrael.com/arch-of-famous-caesarea-aqueduct-collapses-official-we-repeatedly-sounded-alarm/amp/ Here is a 360 view of the aqueduct before the recent collapse : On the YouTube app, one can move the image with their finger.

Two new fragments of the Fasti Ostienses have been discovered at the Ostia Antica Archaeological Park. (The Fasti Ostienses are a calendar of Roman magistrates and significant events from 49 BC to AD 175, found at Ostia, the principal seaport of Rome. https://www.finestresullarte.info/en/archaeology/two-new-fragments-of-the-fasti-ostienses-found-in-the-ostia-antica-archaeological-park

Recent DNA analysis of Ötzi the ancient iceman of the Italian Alps has shown that he had Turkish roots, as well as his skin was darker and he was balder than previously thought. The most recent image of Ötzi. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02562-0 https://www.dailysabah.com/life/oetzi-the-turk-dna-study-shows-surprising-details-about-iceman/news

A beautiful Roman gem has been found in a lagoon north of Venice at Lio Piccolo. Lio Piccolo has long been a thriving fishing community. Underwater excavation also discovered a structure from the first or second centuries AD that had a brick base and oak walls and is thought to have been an oyster holding tank. https://arkeonews.net/precious-roman-gem-engraved-with-mythological-figure-discovered-in-italian-lagoon/ https://www.newsweek.com/precious-engraved-roman-gem-discovered-1816286?amp=1

Here’s an excellent short video recreating Carthage:

There have been many previous posts about Carthage (see below). Invicta has produced a wonderful video “Inside the Walls of Carthage—The Rome of Africa.”

The recent discoveries involving the Roman Amphitheater in Mérida, Spain have been making the news. One of the interesting discoveries was a Roman window grill (pictured above). It is thought that this grill was used to hold translucent stone (known as lapis specularis) instead of glass. Lapis specularis was used because it is a cheaper, more readily available substitute that could be mined from local sources. (A modern example of lapis specularis) (A window made from lapis specularis in the Roman forum of Cartegena) Lapis specularis was the Roman name for a translucent selenite gypsum stone that can be cut out of the local mines in large crystal-like sheets and used as window panes. According to Pliny the Elder, lapis specularis could be found throughout the Empire, but the best source of clear and large pieces of lapis specularis were found near the modern city of Segorbe (ancient Segobriga), Spain. (Evidence of Roman mining for lapis specularis in Segóbriga. See video below.) https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D36%3Achapter%3D45 Excellent article on the finds in Merida, Spain. http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68019 All that shines is not gold; lapis specularis (antiquitatem.com)

It is interesting to see that the Rus later formed some of the most loyal military and security forces for the Byzantines by the late 10th century. Along with other Scandinavians, they formed the Varangian guard. Being from outside the Byzantine Empire, the Varangians were supposedly more loyal and trustworthy than the often-treasonous Byzantine military. Here is an excellent video summarizing this transformation: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varangian_Guard

There have been a few posts in the past (see below) about the Emperor Aurelian (reigned AD 270-275). Here is an excellent new video about him from SPQR Historian: “Aurelian ‘Restitutor Orbis.’”

Using LiDAR technology, scientists have found a more extensive Roman road network in Southwest England than previously thought. https://www.holsworthy-today.co.uk/news/roman-road-network-spanning-the-south-west-identified-in-new-research-631525

Thank you for reading my post. Your point is well made. The fact that two boats have now been discovered in the area, however, makes me suspicious. Plus, the city of Viminacium's being described as a harbor in Nototia Dignitatum (despite its modern distance from any waterway) seems to confirm the belief that the city was once a possible port.