Month: February 2010

Journal of Roman Archaeology News

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

The Humphreys send this along:

We are pleased to announce these new publications:

S75. A CEMETERY OF VANDALIC DATE AT CARTHAGE, by Susan Stevens, Mark Garrison and Joann Freed. 366 pages, 137 figs. + 4 pages of colour and DVD of burial catalogue. This is the final report on a cemetery containing 235 aged individuals tightly dated to the Vandalic era, lying directly outside the Theodosian City Wall. Cloth bound, the list price is $125.00 but the current special offer to individuals is $99.00 plus post.

S76. STUDIES ON ROMAN POTTERY OF THE PROVINCES OF AFRICA PROCONSULARIS AND BYZACENA (TUNISIA). HOMMAGE À MICHEL BONIFAY, containing 9 contributions on North African pottery inspired by Bonifay’s Études. Cloth bound, it has 156 pages and 40 figs. The list price is $69.00 but the current special offer to individuals is $49.00 plus post.

The tables of contents are on our website: www.journalofromanarch.com

Please let us know if you would like either of these and we can give you the totals, including the shipping charges; if you would like to send a British pounds sterling cheque or Canadian dollars, we will give you the conversion rates.

With best wishes and thanks,

John and Laura Humphrey

Journal of Roman Archaeology
95 Peleg Road
Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02871 USA
Telephone: 401-683-1955
Fax: 401-683-1975
e-mail address:jra AT journalofromanarch.com
Web: http://www.JournalofRomanArch.com

This Day in Ancient History: ante diem xv kalendas martias

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

ante diem xv kalendas martias

  • Parentalia (Day 3) — the festival for appeasing the dead continues
  • Lupercalia
  • 44 B.C. — Julius Caesar is offered — and declines — the title of rex and the diadem to go with it
  • 1515 — death of Aldus Manutius

Roman Ring and Gemstone Find

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

This just in:

A GOLD ring and a gemstone found in a field near Upton Grey date back to Roman times, an inquest in Basingstoke heard.

The ring dates back to the third century, and the gemstone from the first or second century. They were found on January 18 last year by Martin Barker, a plumber and amateur treasure hunter from Middlesex, using a metal detector.

Sarah Whitby, deputy coroner for North East Hampshire, ruled at an inquest into the find, held at the Civic Offices, that the items were treasure.

They will now be valued by experts at the British Museum and are thought to be worth a few hundred pounds.

Ralph Jackson, curator at the British Museum’s department of prehistory and Europe, prepared a report for the inquest having studied the items.

The inquest was told he believes the carnelian gemstone bears a picture of a maenad – a female worshipper of Dionysus – the ancient Greek god of wine.

The gemstone would probably have sat inside the ring, which had a gold content of around 94 to 97 per cent, and the ring may have been part of a larger ornamental brooch, the inquest heard.

Angus Janaway, who owns the land on which the treasure was found, attended the inquest. He told The Gazette: “I have known Martin for a long time and this could be the find of a life time. When I first saw it, it was covered in mud so I did not know what it was.”

After valuation, the ring will be offered for sale to the Hampshire Museums Service. The money will then be shared between the Crown, Mr Barker and Mr Janaway.

Rob Webley, Finds Liaison Officer for the Hampshire Museums Service, said the items could together be worth around £300 to £500.

He said: “It’s a special piece and it is something that the museum service would hope to acquire. I would hope that it would go on display at the Willis Museum in Basingstoke.”

via Gems find from Roman times | Basingstoke Gazette.

A Roman Chariot on the A24!

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

The incipit of a piece describing a discovery I’m very surprised we haven’t heard more about (this seems to be the only coverage!) … during highway construction, a number of burials — one of which apparently includes a Roman chariot — has been found near the Centocelle airport:

Un eccezionale ritrovamento archeologico è venuto alla luce nelle settimane scorse durante i lavori della complanare alla A-24 nel quartiere di La Rustica. Una biga romana, diversi siti funerari con tanto di monumenti, suppellettili e scheletri di cui uno probabilmente appartenente ad un nobile, poiché accanto è stato ritrovato uno scettro.

… not much detail after that, alas …

via Una biga romana sull’A24 – Abitare a Roma.

Snow Closes Sites in Rome

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ 1 Comment

Chiusi per l’abbondante nevicata tutti i siti archeologici di Roma: Colosseo e area centrale dei Fori Imperiali, Foro Romano e Palatino, così come le Terme di Caracalla, le tombe sulla via Latina, fino all’Appia Antica con la Villa dei Quintili: “Abbiamo chiuso tutti i monumenti all’aperto in via preventiva – dichiara il soprintendente archeologico Angelo Bottini – prima che qualcuno possa farsi male. L’abbondante nevicata ha reso i percorsi molto scivolosi e rischiosi, così per l’incolumità pubblica abbiamo preferito chiudere in base alle segnalazioni dei rispettivi direttori delle aree. Ma la neve non ha creato nessun danno strutturale ai monumenti – continua Bottini – In base alle condizioni meteorologiche decideremo quando riaprirli. Se la neve smette, entro domani riapriremo”. Rimangono aperte nel frattempo tutte le sedi museali.

via NEVE, CHIUSI PER PRECAUZIONE COLOSSEO E SITI ARCHEOLOGICI | Roma la Repubblica.it.

Here’s a photo from a slideshow in the Guardian:

from the Guardian

More: Snow in Rome | Guardian