guy

It is good to see that Roman archaeological finds are being preserved, even if they are now part of a McDonalds. These ruins are highly accessible to the public.

There is still little in-depth information about the Leeds find. Here is an early video on the find:

The remains of a late-Roman aristocratic woman has been found in Leeds. This finding was among eighty other skeletons that date from the late-Roman and early-Saxon periods. (Lead coffin contained Roman remains) https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2023-03-13/roman-womans-skeleton-unearthed-in-extraordinary-secret-cemetery

Here’s an interesting video about the Roman auxiliaries: Here’s a good video contrasting the legionary weapons and tactics with those of the auxiliaries. Five auxiliary units of the Roman army: https://www.thecollector.com/auxiliary-units-the-roman-army/

There is further evaluation of the cremated remains in the Colchester vase. https://www.livescience.com/gladiators-fought-in-roman-britain-action-packed-cremation-urn-carvings-reveal

Here is a wonderful video by Max Miller on “Dinner with Attila the Hun.” Also below is an article on the Roman envoy Priscus’s description of dining with Attila. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/attila.htm

The Vatican has returned three pieces of the Parthenon that was in their collection. It is hoped that the Vatican’s gesture will put increased pressure on the British Museum to return their much larger Parthenon collection known as the Elgin marbles (see posts below): https://apnews.com/article/parthenon-vatican-return-marble-sculptures-61904ad33c9c8edf182f65c352a52829 Previous threads about the Elgin Parthenon marbles controversy.

A Roman-era alter piece was found in the grounds of Leicester Cathedral. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/03/excavations-reveal-roman-altar-stone-in-shrine-or-cult-room/146401

Rome quickly exerted its control and influence in Egypt after the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra. In this case, Rome integrated itself into the culture by placing the face of the emperor Claudius on a Sphinx. https://m.sundayworld.com/news/world-news/archaeologists-unearth-sphinx-like-roman-era-statue-in-egypt/789840870.html (Map of Dendera, Egypt)

The Colchester vase depicting two gladiators was first found in Colchester in 1853. There is now evidence it was locally manufactured with local clay around AD 160-200. This may confirm that gladiator fights did, in fact, occur in Britain. Or, at least, fans of gladiatorial fights lived in Britain. There had been no previous evidence of gladiator contests in Britain. Background history of Colchester: The ancient Roman city (Camulodunum) was the first legionary fortress established after the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD. It was attacked and destroyed by Boudicca in 61 AD. It was later rebuilt. It has the only Roman Circus (chariot racetrack) in Britain. It also has two of Britain’s five Roman theaters, including Britain’s largest with 5000 seats. By the Second and Third centuries AD it may have had 30,000 inhabitants. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/mar/04/evidence-reveals-gladiators-fought-in-roman-britain https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/colchester-vase-0018017 http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66650 Recent evidence of a Roman Circus has been found in Colchester:

I guess the focus of the find is also the presence of Roman-era spikes used to impede enemy forces: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/roman-wooden-spikes-barbed-wire-julius-caesar-180981727/

Here is an interesting interactive map of the forts and supply forts along Hadrian’s Wall: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/01/vallum-aulium-hadrians-wall/136689?amp=1 Hadrian's Wall Article : Scribble Maps

(Roman sestertius of Trajan depicting Portus, the harbor of Rome.) Here is another great video by Garrett Ryan. This video deals with architecture found on ancient Roman coins. Interestingly, he discusses the Roman port of Portus, near the city of Rome (4:40). We had a recent thread on this harbor of Rome. (See thread below):

Here’s the original thread about the corridor after it was first discovered in 2017:

Here’s an interesting article about the discovery of a corridor in the Great Pyramid of Giza. This corridor could either be a structural support for the pyramid or related to an undiscovered burial chamber. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64825526

I saw Winwood and Clapton at The MGM in Las Vegas a few years ago. They did most of the Blind Faith songs. Winwood stole the show, however. Winwood's solo "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" was absolutely breathtaking. A few years later, I saw Winwood with Steely Dan. I was less impressed as he became more "jazzy" for that show.

(Scene from the “Raiders of the Lost Ark” where the Ark of the Covenant is placed in storage.) The storage of historical artifacts in Britain has been a problem. The lack of display or public sale of numismatic finds is especially frustrating. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64707488

Here is an interesting article on some of the most fascinating and beautiful coins assessed by NGC Ancient Certification service. The background of the above coin is interesting: https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/11134/NGC-Ancient-coins/ Images courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group, Heritage Auctions, Numismatica Ars Classica, Ira & Larry Goldberg, and Jean Elsen & ses Fils.

Interesting research. I would like to see your results. I guess it would depend on the time period examined. Constantinople wouldn’t be among the largest population centers until the fourth century AD, for example. I’m surprised to see Hispania listed as among the least urbanized considering Cadéz and Córdoba were large urban centers. Please share your research.

The Constantine Colossus was recreated in Milan in exact proportion to the original statue whose fragments are found at the Capitoline Museum in Rome. https://thenationview.com/entertainment/125805.html?amp=1

I guess the notable exception would be Constantinople. In AD 324 it had a population around 50,000. After it was named the “New Rome” by Constantine, it grew to 500,000. That does not conform with the “general trend of a population collapse.”

Interesting assessment. The rather precipitous drop in Rome’s population (50%) between AD 50 and AD 275 is noteworthy. The effects of deadly plagues (including the Antonine Plague in AD 165-180 and the Plague of Cyprian in AD 249-262), as well as the many bloody internecine wars took its toll. It is no surprise that the city of Rome lost its prestige and influence in the Empire during the decades to come.

A previous thread dealt with the controversy of building a 210-acre solar farm near Silchester, site of one of Britain’s best preserved Roman sites. (See thread below.) Despite protests, the project will now be allowed to proceed: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/giant-solar-farm-next-to-hampshire-roman-ruins-gets-green-light-after-u-turn/ar-AA17TI6K How Roman Silchester might have looked: https://archaeology.co.uk/articles/features/silchesters-roman-baths.htm

There have been a few posts about trade between Rome and India before (see threads below). Here is a good summary article: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/02/evidence-of-indo-roman-relations/146284

Short video on the lack of late-Emperor busts: