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Underwater excavations have uncovered Roman remains off the coast of Portorož, Slovenia. Besides 3000 ceramic items such as fragments of amphorae and kitchenware, two different masts (dating to the 3rd and 4th centuries AD) made of either fir and spruce wood were recovered. Studies suggest that these masts had been repurposed for use as moorings or as structural supports. These finds support the idea that the port may have been part of a thriving trade network in the Roman Empire. https://archaeologymag.com/2024/03/remains-of-ancient-harbor-near-portoroz-slovenia/ https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/03/study-finds-submerged-roman-remains/150911 https://sloveniatimes.com/40232/remains-of-ancient-harbour-found-near-portoroz

A coin from the Bar Kokhba revolt, dating from AD 132 (the first year of the revolt), was found at the bottom of cliffs currently undergoing excavation by Israeli archaeologists in the Judean Desert. The rare coin with the inscription "Eleazar the Priest."Credit: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority The other side of the coin, featuring a cluster of grapes and the optimistic inscription "Year 1 of the redemption of Israel." This coin and three others were found during the excavation: https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2024-03-04/ty-article/rare-coin-naming-bar-kochba-leader-eleazer-the-priest-found-in-judean-desert/0000018e-089e-d5ee-a78e-38de5ddd0000 Other recent finds during excavation in the caves includes Roman swords:

Here’s a wonderful pot with a whimsical face and ears brought to my attention from a tweet by Nina Willburger @DrNWillburger. It was found in a necropolis at Giubiasco, Switzerland dating from the 2nd century AD. It is currently at Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum. https://twitter.com/DrNWillburger Below is a modern mug for comparison:

Excavations in Pompeii at the House of Leda have uncovered a fresco depicting Phrixus fleeing on the back of the Golden-woolled winged Ram with his sister Helle (who is already in the water). https://amp.abc.net.au/article/103537716 This is a nice summary of this Greek myth in two different short videos.

The campaign to protect the site is now under public consultation. There is a desire to add the land to a list of nationally important archaeological sites, which would then require consent from the Secretary of State for any work. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv2yxvx0j5yo

Interesting that there is a suggestion that Alexander died from Guillain-Barre.

Roman defensive spikes have been uncovered during excavations in Bad Ems of a 1st century Roman fort. The spikes were placed in ditches around the fort. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/roman-defensive-spikes-unveiled-at-the-leibniz-centre-for-archaeology/150840

Wales has been increasingly recognized for its extensive Roman presence (see posts below). A metal detectorist in March 2020 found sixteen items from the Iron Age and Roman-era in a boggy field in the community of Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf on Anglesey. It is thought to have been once a sacred spring. Among the items uncovered were Iron Age chariot fittings, a metal ram’s head, and a Roman copper ingot. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-68429384

Death scene from the movie “Alexander” I do have some experience with folks with ectodermal dysplasias (ED). The ectoderm is one of the three primary layer of cells (germ layers) that form during embryonic development. The ectoderm layer is involved in formation of teeth, hair, nails, and sweat glands. A dysplasia is an abnormal formation of cells. So, ectodermeral dysplasia (ED) would expect to have abnormalities involving the teeth, hair, nails, and sweat. There are around 180 different forms of EDs with different hereditary patterns. Anhidrotic (or hypohidrotic) ED variant is the most common. Anhidrotic ED people have a severe dysfunction of their sweat glands and would have a serious intolerance to heat. Alexander the Great almost certainly did not have this variant because he marched to India and Egypt, which would have been intolerable to him. Also, people with anhidrotic ED have unusual facial features: a saddle nose and supraorbital ridging. That would have made Alexander's face very striking, but it was not mentioned. The hidrotic variant is less devastating, but does have skin, nails, and hair abnormalities. These people don't have the serious sweating problems. So, if Alexander did have a variant of ED, his only evidence is "conical teeth." I don't think "sweet scent" is associated with ED. His "hair like a lion" would also not be associated with ED, either. Usually, people with ED have sparse, fine, and short hair. This doesn't sound like Alexander's description. I, therefore, don't think that Alexander had a variant of ectodermal dyspasia, even a less serious one. https://healthjade.net/ectodermal-dysplasia/

Interesting thought. I agree it is interesting that conical "peg-shaped teeth" are most commonly associated with ectodermal dysplasias (ED). (Congenital syphilis, which also can cause peg-shaped teeth, is unlikely in pre-Columbian Europe.) Later on, I will comment on the thought that Alexander the Great had ED. That said, I am not sure of the source or validity of the ancient source you referenced other than Plutarch who wrote about Alexander more than three centuries after his death. Can you reference the sources?

During excavations at the site of a medieval shipyard at Smallhyde Place in Tenterden, Kent, a Roman head of Mercury (without the body) was discovered. This figurine in pipe clay measures 5 cm (2 inches) tall. This figurine was found in context of a previously unrecorded Roman settlement, dating from 1st to 3rd century AD, that was unearthed during excavations. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-68358986

A 5th century BCE Etruscan tomb has been unearthed at the San Giuliano necropolis near Rome. Hopefully, this will further shed light on Etruscan burial practices. https://archaeologymag.com/2024/02/monumental-etruscan-tomb-in-the-necropolis-of-san-giuliano/ https://arkeonews.net/a-monumental-etruscan-tomb-has-been-discovered-in-the-necropolis-of-san-giuliano-north-of-rome/

Archaeologists have recovered a Roman funerary alter dating from the imperial era at San Vito al Torre, Italy. On the side one can see the image of a winged Erotes. The Erotes are a group of winged gods in Classical mythology associated with love and sexual desire. According to the article Erotes is holding an overturned torch and poppy flower thought to be symbols representing eternal sleep. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/roman-funerary-altar-found-partially-buried-in-torre-river/150649

A possible example of a proto-Basque language has been found in Northern Spain on a bronze good-luck charm shaped as a hand. It is thought to be from the Vascones, considered the ancestors of modern Basques, and it would have been placed onto the entrance of a building. The Vascones were able to negotiate with the Romans when the Romans first arrived in Spain. The Vascones were a fierce and independent tribe who were known for their martial skills. They were never fully subdued by the Romans and were able to maintain some degree of autonomy by paying a tribute to Rome. The Vascones raised at least one auxiliary cohort in support of the Roman army, Cohors II Vasconum. Galba rose up against the Nero in AD 68, possibly with support of this cohort. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/study-reveals-oldest-and-longest-example-of-vasconic-script/150606 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/vasconic-inscription-on-a-bronze-hand-writing-and-rituality-in-the-iron-age-irulegi-settlement-in-the-ebro-valley/645A15DF3D725F83D62F3D1FB5DF83EC https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cohors_II_Vasconum

Other objects made from Iron found in the Bronze Age find. They are thought to be derived from a meteorite source, also. Further studies might confirm their origin. Here’s a follow-up article on the research. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-famous-spanish-treasure-actually-contains-metal-from-space-180983788/ Two good videos on the find:

On October 2023, an Ancient Roman tomb was found during water work in the city of Giugliano, near Naples. On the wall was a fresco of Cerberus, the mythical three-headed dog who guarded the underworld. https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/10/10/2000-year-old-tomb-of-cerberus-with-stunning-frescoes-discovered-in-italy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerberus

Here’s an interesting article on painting projects in Ancient Rome: https://www.archaeology.org/issues/544-2403/digs/12134-dd-italy-roman-painting

The city of Winchester, England (about 60 miles or 10o km Southwest of London) is better known for its medieval history. The city, however, was formally the important Roman town of Venta Belgarum (the market of the Belgae). A new book further examines previous archaeological finds on the city: https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/24125911.roman-winchester-revealed-new-book-based-archaeological-digs/

(Picture from Dr J Ball @DrJEBall): Suspected snack remnants (fruit seeds, stones, and pits) found during recent archaeological studies from the drainage system at the Colosseum There has been a previous post about evidence of snacks at the Colosseum found at archaeological excavations in the drainage system of the Colosseum. (See post below.) This is another wonderful video by Max Miller: “Eating at the Colosseum.” https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11466845/amp/Animal-bones-ancient-Romans-snack-food-Colosseum.html

A silver brooch depicting the she-wolf suckling the twins Romulus and Remus has been found in Villanova d’Alcolea, Spain. It dates to the second century AD and measures about 4 cm (1.6 inches). It was found during an excavation of a suspected ancient Roman site. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/rare-depiction-of-romulus-and-remus-found-in-vilanova-dalcolea/150550/amp Background on Romulus and Remus mythology: https://www.unrv.com/culture/romulus-and-remus.php

More images of the excavation:

Artifacts, including jewelry and coins, have been uncovered in Roman tombs near the village of Nova Varbovka in Bulgaria. A bronze medalllion of Caracalla minted in Pergamon in AD 214 has also been recovered. These finds date from the early third century AD. Interestingly, one of the tombs was a child’s tomb that contained gold earrings, glass bead jewelry, and two glass lacrimatory bottles (or tear catchers). (See photo below) A lacrymatory (from the Latin lacrima meaning tear) is a small vessel found in Roman tombs. These were supposedly the bottles in which mourners dropped their tears. More likely, these vessels contained perfumes, fragrances, or unguents for the corpse. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/rare-medallion-of-caracalla-among-high-status-objects-found-in-roman-cemetery/150527/amp https://archaeologymag.com/2024/02/medallion-of-emperor-caracalla-found-in-bulgaria/ A previous discovery of lacrymatory bottles: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacrymatory

That is the question Mary Beard and others are asking. Solar farms take up many acres and can be unsightly. They would permanently alter the local landscape and irreparably damage any historical site.

Recent excavations at Megiddo, Israel have discovered evidence of Legio VI Ferrata (Iron) Legion (see post below). Recently the remains of a military base has been discovered. Legio VI Ferrata was in Judea for about two centuries (second till early forth century AD). The symbol for Legio VI Ferrata was a bull. It also carried the symbolic she-wolf with Romulus and Remus. Legio VI Ferrata supported Legio X Fretensis during its deployment in Judea. https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-786877 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_VI_Ferrata

Richborough is a Roman site that has been the site of new discoveries (see below). Classicist Mary Beard and others have expressed concern about the potential of a planned solar farm to destroy the Roman heritage and future opportunities for excavation at the site. https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/solar-farm-could-cause-serious-9096322#google_vignette