guy

There have been several posts about Neanderthals in the past (see below). Here’s a good article about them: https://www.thecollector.com/who-were-the-neanderthals-why-are-they-important/

(Site of the newly-discovered Turret 3a at Hadrian’s Wall in Tyneside) While doing initial evaluation in 2015 for additional student housing in Tyneside, they found evidence of Hadrian’s Wall. This initiated studies to further evaluate the site, leading to the discovery of a Roman Turret known as 3a. (A turret is an observation tower and is numbered according to the Milecastle to the east along Hadrian’s Wall. There were usually two turrets between each Milecastle.) Below is a fascinating video exploring an urban excavation of Hadrian’s Wall and the discovery of Turret 3a: (The remains of Hadrian’s Wall were found near the student’s dormitories) (Depiction of the various turret-types discussed in the video.) (Reconstruction of a turret found at Vindolanda.) Here is an entertaining video about the turrets along Hadrian’s Wall.

A coin hoard was found in Livorno, Italy. It appears to be dated to the Roman civil war between Sulla and the Marians in 82 BCE. https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/2000-year-old-hoard-of-roman-coins-may-have-been-hidden-by-a-soldier-during-a-bloody-civil-war-in-italy

A Roman sanctuary and cemetery were found in Elewijt, Belgium. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/04/archaeologists-discover-roman-sanctuary-and-cemetery-in-belgium/147025 (The site of Elewijt, a Roman vicus or settlement)

Yes, you are correct. I guess I didn’t notice the date of the find, which predates the Roman conquest. Just as important, however, is the movie you linked reminded me of just how beautiful Sophia Loren was. Thanks. Here are a couple scenes from the movie:

Here's an interesting article by Lapham's Quarterly on Plutarch's (misogynistic) advice to a bride and groom from his Moralia: Forever Hold Your Peace | Lapham’s Quarterly (laphamsquarterly.org) Here are the 48 pieces of advice in their entirety: Reading (markbwilson.com)

A small counterbalance from the 1st century AD with the image of the Greek god Silenus has been found in Cockermouth, Northern England. (Silenus was rhe Greek god of wine and drunkenness.) (Cockermouth is about 300 miles or 500 km north of London)

An artist's impression of a Roman fortlet at a different location along the Antonine Wall A suspected Roman fortlet has been discovered along the Antonine Wall in Scotland: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-65309762 Clydebank, Scotland, site of recent discovery along Antonine Wall

Aerial orthophotograph of the Villa of the Quintilii winery building, indicating the treading area (A), press beds (B1 and B2), proposed press mechanism rooms (C1 and C2), collection vat (D), cella vinaria (E), and dining rooms (F1 and F2) (image by M.C.M s.r.l, modified from Frontoni et al. ) A winery thought to be build during the chaos of the third century has been excavated near Rome. This building complex suggests despite this period of societal disruption, the elites were able to continue their lavish lifestyles. https://theconversation.com/a-newly-uncovered-ancient-roman-winery-featured-marble-tiling-fountains-of-grape-juice-and-an-extreme-sense-of-luxury-199670 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/spectacle-of-production-a-roman-imperial-winery-at-the-villa-of-the-quintilii-rome/C3BFAFED7E6C5F14DBAFEB443EDB6CC2

(Like the dog remains examined, the French bulldog is brachycephalic. The dog remains were of a smaller dog, much like the French bulldog pictured.) Recent archaeological studies suggest that the Romans were among the first to breed brachycephalic (or flat-faced) dogs. Studies of dog remains in Turkey help confirm the theory. https://phys.org/news/2023-04-early-romans-flat-faced-dogs.html https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X2300144X Here is a previous thread about dogs in Ancient Rome:

Archaeological digs at Paestrum, located near the archaeological site of Pompeii, have resumed. A figurine of Eros, the Greek god of love, riding on a dolphin has been unearthed. https://news.sky.com/story/greek-god-of-love-and-sex-riding-a-dolphin-among-artefacts-unearthed-at-ancient-city-of-paestum-12858623 https://arkeonews.net/new-discoveries-at-ancient-greek-city-of-paestums-little-doric-temple-in-italy/

Investigation of a 6th century manuscript fragment revealed an earlier 3rd century Syriac translation of the Gospel. This is one of the earliest translations known. There have been other discussions of investigating palimpsests, finding interesting works (see below). [Palimpsest: a manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain.] https://www.oeaw.ac.at/en/news/new-testament-fragment-of-1750-year-old-translation-discovered https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/uv-light-reveals-hidden-never-before-seen-version-of-the-gospel-of-matthew-on-ancient-parchment

Roman roof tiles have been found at the excavation site at Micklegate, York. One can see the where nails were placed to secure the tiles. Below is a reconstructed house using Roman tiles. https://www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/newsblog/2023/elland-area-to-york-roman-roof-tiles-found-on-site

The silver ring's carved gemstone is a dark orange-red colour and "is probably a carnelian", experts said in their report to the Essex Coroner A Roman Apollo ring has been unearthed in Chelmsford. It maybe related to a nearby hoard known as the “Jeweler’s Hoard” found in 1985 (see below). The seal would leave an impression of Apollo holding a laurel wreath when pressed into wax (above) https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-65202077 Information about the earlier "Jeweler's Hoard": https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF1517-Snettisham-Roman-jeweller's-hoard-Roman-settlement-and-multi-period-finds&Index=1339&RecordCount=61672&SessionID=2d1bb9af-b092-4515-b65b-94a2f1dea22e https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-51400817

Here’s a funny commercial from the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. It’s Monty Pythonesque and deals with the Trojan horse story.

Coin of Septimius Severus (reign AD193- 211) found in the hoard. Coin of Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus An unspectacular coin hoard of 1056 coins was found in Northern England in 2018 and was purchased by a local museum. The most recent coin was that of Septimius Severus (reign AD 193 - 211). Interestingly, there is a coin of Marc Antony from around 32 BCE in the hoard. Severus was in Britain from AD 208 till he died near York in 211. So it seems that someone in remote Britian carried around both contemporary coins of Septimius Severus and a coin of Marc Antony from two centuries prior. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-65244111 Location of York, United Kingdom, not far from the location of the coin hoard, as well as the place of Septimius Severus’s death

Egypt used to be the primary source of wheat for the Roman Empire. When this supply of food was disrupted, it had significant effects on the Empire's stability. Rebellions, barbarian invasions, epidemics, and droughts all contributed to this instability. Currently, researchers are studying the impact of climate change on the wheat supply by analyzing wood samples from mummies buried during the Roman era. Mummy labels of different quality from the BNU collection in Strasbourg were used to acquire dendrochronological measurements. Top left: Growth rings on mummy label HO87 cannot be measured easily due to tool marks and surface coating. Top right: Mummy label HO66 has a clean surface and perfectly readable rings. Bottom left: growth rings on label HO59 are only partly visible as a result of the cutting method applied and tool marks, the central part is illegible. Bottom right: Growth rings on the transverse plane of mummy label HO43 as seen on a X-ray tomography image with perfectly legible rings https://www.archaeology.org/news https://www.snf.ch/en/XlYUJjBFhCvE38RC/news/mummies-provide-the-key-to-reconstruct-the-climate-of-the-ancient-mediterranean The scholarly article: https://brill.com/view/journals/ijwc/aop/article-10.1163-27723194-bja10017/article-10.1163-27723194-bja10017.xml Distribution of the 599 labels for which the location of finds is known, as well as the distribution by label type: Type I, Stela shape rectangular; Type II, Stela shape trapezoidal; Type III, Stela shape close to square; Type IV, Stela shape with handle; Type V, Tabula Ansata

Here’s a wonderful video by Max Miller about dining at Hadrian’s Wall “Feeding the Army of Roman Britain.”

Below is a nice review of Parthia and its coinage: Doug Smith has a nice writeup for beginners on Parthian coins: Parthian Coins (forumancientcoins.com) The Dr. Robert Gonnella collection of Parthian coins is extensive and amazing: Gonnella Collection (parthia.com) Links to other Parthian coin sites: Collections of Parthian Coins

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/04/etruscan-tomb-discovered-in-ruins-of-ancient-vulci/146815 http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66946

I was going to cite Caesar’s decimation of a legion during the war with Pompeii as one of his "horrific acts," but I was incorrect. He only threatened to decimate the 9th legion to instill greater discipline. (The sociopath Antony, on the other hand, had no qualms about decimating a Roman legion during his foolish war against Parthia.)

https://arkeonews.net/roman-numerals-discovered-on-stone-of-destiny-ahead-of-king-charles-iii-coronation/

Hair found at a Bronze Age burial site in Menorca (Balearic Islands) has been analyzed, and evidence of psychoactive compounds has been found. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/04/direct-evidence-of-ancient-bronze-age-drug-use-found-in-menorca/146802 https://nypost.com/2023/04/07/hallucinogenic-drugs-found-in-3000-year-old-human-shaman-hair/ The scientific source article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-31064-2

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-65139769

Here is a beautiful example of a “ribbon glass” cup thought to date from 25 BCE - AD 50, now at the Corning Museum of Glass. (Thank you Dr Crom @DocCrom for bringing this to my attention.) https://www.cmog.org/artwork/ribbon-glass-cup