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Researchers have unexpectedly discovered a supply of the powerful black henbane seeds in a hollow animal bone in Roman Netherlands from the first century AD. A birch tar plug and the waterlogged microenvironment had preserved the contents. Henbane has both an analgesic and sedative effect, as well as having psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties. https://www.science.org/content/article/roman-era-bone-container-holds-potent-hallucinogenic-medicine

The recreated Constantine Colossus is now in Rome after being in Milan last year (see post). It will be located in the side garden at the Capitoline Museum where the original fragments are located. There will be a second version of the statue in Northeast England. Constantine was proclaimed Emperor in AD 306 at York. https://apnews.com/article/italy-rome-constantine-b1c5418d16b4911c0c623acdcc80c7a2

I was watching a video (see below) about Trajan’s column when I saw the Dacian fort with the heads of captured enemies. I also saw the Dacian draco: the hollow dragon-appearing military standard that made a whistling sound. This was later adapted first by the Roman cavalry and later the infantry. Scene from the movie “Gladiator” with the draco standard. The whistling shrieking sound of the draco could have had a power effect in demoralizing the enemy: Good article on the Roman draco: http://www.fectio.org.uk/articles/draco.htm https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacian_draco

A Roman wooden funerary bed has been excavated from a Roman cemetery near Holborn viaduct in central London. Also discovered were five oak coffins. The graves survived in the waterlogged burial site microenvironment. The bed had been dismantled before being laid in a grave of a male in his late twenties or early thirties. Other objects recovered elsewhere in the cemetery included beads. a glass vial with residue, and a decorated lamp. https://amp.theguardian.com/science/2024/feb/05/flat-packed-furniture-for-the-next-life-roman-funerary-bed-found-in-london

Here’s an unusual but fascinating re-enactment of Legio XIII in Italy:

This broken brick has inscribed: LEG X …. Other photos from the find: https://www.meinbezirk.at/hernals/c-lokales/ausgrabungen-im-schulhof-kindermanngasse_a6448354?fbclid=IwAR2NLHwEi5t9cFpK3oZjM78vvR6c2oIftsafHhZ4zFEqsp_V3LxhAZngQa4#gallery=null http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/69394 https://arkeonews.net/viennese-archaeologists-find-legio-xiii-gemina-bricks/

The Legio XIII crossed the Rubicon with Caesar (from HBO’s series “Rome”). Excavations at an elementary school in Vienna have found evidence of Legio XIII Gemina. This was initially Caesar’s legion that crossed with him the Rubicon in 49 BCE. Evidence of a large-scale Roman building dating to the 2nd century AD has been found, as well as bricks with the name Legio XIII Gemina. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/traces-of-the-13th-legion-gemina-found-in-vienna/150433 Here’s a video on Legio XIII:

Dating ancient Roman artifacts from once-living material can be somewhat complicated. Here is an excellent article that explains the process using Carbon-14 dating. https://www.iflscience.com/what-is-carbon-14-dating-72747 Nice basic videos on the subject: Another way to date Roman artifacts is dendrochronolgy (tree ring dating) as well as newer isotope-based testing of wood: An old thread on dating Roman material:

There have been many previous posts about the plagues that affected Ancient Rome (see below). Studies show that three of the most brutal cold snaps were associated with the three best-known plagues in Roman history: the Antonine Plague (AD 160-185), the Plague of Cyprian (AD 249-270), and the Justinian Plague (AD 541-549). https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/devastating-roman-era-plagues-were-ushered-in-by-cold-snaps-study-finds https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adk1033

A bog body has been found in Northern Ireland. Carbon dating has placed the death around 500 BCE. Although the cause of death is unknown, the victim was between 13 and 17 years old at the time of death. Partial skin, as well as nails were intact. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/01/archaeologists-find-2000-year-old-bog-body/150396

The Mougins Museum of Classical Art in France is selling some of their collection to help fund its new museum, FAMM (Female Artists of the Mougins). Here are some of the wonderful items for sell: A Roman Cavalry mask from around AD 50 A Roman brass helmet from AD 69-117 A Roman cavalry helmet AD 125-175 A Roman helmet AD 125-175 an inscription for Julius Mansuetus https://www.christies.com/auction/auction-22770-nyr A Roman Hellenistic-era Roman breastplate has been withdrawn from the antiquities auction because of possible ties to organized crime and unclear provenance. https://www.ansa.it/amp/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2024/01/29/roman-breastplate-pulled-from-nyc-auction_5ba1539c-c910-4683-873b-bce52ac2c02c.html

Here is an interesting article on pepper in the ancient world: https://www.brandeis.edu/now/2019/may/pepper-rome-ancient.html

Two pieces of the Villena treasure (c. 1300-1000 BCE) from the late Bronze Age underwent mass spectrometry studies. It was determined that these Bronze Age pieces included iron thought to be from a meteorite source. The Villena treasure predates known iron production. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/01/traces-of-meteoric-iron-in-the-villena-treasure/150356 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasure_of_Villena Previous threads about ancient discoveries made from meteorite iron.

In this short, Max describes the difference between modern pepper and Roman pepper

(Roman scutum) (Armor from the Arminius revolt) (Pair of children's shoes) (Official gifts) A new exhibit at the British Museum. (Thanks Dr Tom for bringing this to my attention.) https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/legion-life-roman-army

Too funny. Thanks for your attention to my post. Having taken a whole semester of anatomy, one would think I would have noticed that the foot bone was upside down. (An X-ray of an otherwise healthy foot)

This is a followup to the unusual skeleton of a man found in Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire in 2017 who was the victim of Roman crucification (see post below). A facial reconstruction has been completed by a US forensic expert. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-67943596 Pottery items found at dig:

An ancient Roman wine shop has been found in the ancient city of Sikyon in Greece. The shop was destroyed by a sudden destructive event. Sixty bronze coins, most dating to the reign of Constantius II, have been discovered. The latest coins are dated from AD 355 to 361. The wine shop was found as part of a larger complex that contained kilns and presses for grapes and olives. https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/roman-era-wine-shop-possibly-destroyed-in-an-earthquake-discovered-in-greece

Thank you for reading this post. I have no expertise in making wine, so I really can't comment with any authority. It seems to me, however, the archaeological evidence for the use of wooden barrels for winemaking is less likely to have survived the millennia. We can't, therefore, be sure how prevalent the use of earthenware dolia in Ancient Rome was in comparison to wooden barrels. We also don't know whether the use of dolia was more regional or widespread, either.

A recent study suggests that Roman wine had unusual characteristics. Ancient wine had an unusual taste and texture. The spicy flavor was created by the buried dolia (Roman pots of wine). Being buried, the temperature was well controlled while the wine aged. The clay vessels also gave the wine a “drying sensation” in the mouth. The narrow base of fermentation means that the grapes were separated from the wine, giving the liquid an orange color. https://www.newsweek.com/how-roman-wine-tasted-archaeologists-1862792 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/21CE9DC73E121EE173E902625E9E559D/S0003598X2300193Xa.pdf/making_wine_in_earthenware_vessels_a_comparative_approach_to_roman_vinification.pdf

Thank you for reading my post. Professor Trizio in his above video makes the point that Trajan’s column, whose friezes depict the conflicts with the Dacians, shows the Dacian falx (curved blade) and the Roman arm guard as protection. The falx was very effective in injuring the legionaries’ exposed arms and legs which had been previously unprotected. Trajan’s column attests to the modifications that may have been made to protect against the Dacian falx. “Trajan introduced the use of greaves and an arm protector (mania) for the right arm, which had previously been used only by gladiators and which was never used again [or at least routinely] once the Dacia campaign concluded (Wikipedia).” This arm guard may have had only a ceremonial function or might have been brought back by a veteran of the Dacian conflicts. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falx

Here’s a wonderful video by Professor Roberto Trizio on the find. (English subtitles can be enabled)

A brass Roman arm guard found in Scotland has been reassembled and will be on display. It was found in about 100 fragments and dates to the late second century AD. https://www.news-journal.com/roman-armour-to-go-on-display-after-experts-complete-ancient-jigsaw-puzzle/video_5ea7c199-5f53-5e75-a6a1-431bb8bcaa41.html

Fifteen iron weapons have been found in Eastern Poland. They are thought to be from the Roman era, of barbarian nature. Items include spearheads and axes. https://notesfrompoland.com/2024/01/21/roman-era-barbarian-weapons-found-in-polish-forest/