Category: Archaeology

Finds from Strumica in Eastern Macedonia

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

No relevant photos, alas:

A unique lamp from the fourth century with the image of Alexander the Great and gold jewellery from the second century BC were discovered by archaeologists in the Tsarevi Kuli area over the town of Strumica in eastern Macedonia.

The new finds discovered at the necropolis of the southern wall of the site confirm the theory that during Antiquity, Strumica was a well-developed trade centre, archaeologist Zoran Ruyak told the national newspaper Vecer today.

The jewellery finds suggest that Strumica , which during the second century BC was called Astraîon, had a well-developed trade center, a rich population and was in communication with the workshops in Thessaloniki and neighbouring towns, especially those of Isar Marvintsi and Vardarki Rid which are also being excavated this year, the archaeologist added.

The fact that the continued development of Strumica was not interrupted is confirmed by the findings dating to the fourth century and the unique light with the likely image of Alexander the Great.

The find is one of the most interesting ones and, as far as archaeologists know so far, it is unique, the arcaheologist told the publication.

There are currently around 100 people working on the Tsarevi Kuli excavations, Vecer noted. The research on the site started about a month and a half ago, and are financed by the government as part of the country’s main archaeological projects.

via Balkan Travellers – Archaeologists Unearth New Finds near Strumica in Eastern Macedonia.

Roman Temple in Southwell (Iterum)

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

This one seems to be making the rounds again:

Remains unearthed in Nottinghamshire could be an unknown Roman temple, archaeologists have claimed.

Excavations on the Minster C of E School site in Southwell between September 2008 and May 2009 revealed walls, ditches and ornate stones.

The team analysing the finds said the shape and quality of the remains suggest it could have been an important place of worship.

This could mean Southwell enjoyed a high status Roman Britain, they added.

A wall of large block masonry that was probably plastered and possibly painted, with a ditch that may have contained water, was possibly the boundary of a large temple.

Roman pilgrims

The remains of timber scaffolding for the wall were also uncovered. Radiocarbon dating of this dated it to the first century.

Ursilla Spence from Nottinghamshire County Council, the archaeologist who supervised the work, said a lack of domestic remains, like pots and tools, also indicated a ceremonial use.

“This is a fascinating site,” she said. “But, so far, it has raised more questions than it has answered.

“I hope that future excavation work, when the site is developed, will throw more light on exactly what was going on here 2,000 years ago.

“But, whatever we might find in future, I believe we have already shown that Roman Southwell was a much more significant place than anyone previously thought.”

She added that if the site was a temple, a nearby ‘villa’ with mosaics, excavated in 1959, could actually have been a hotel for pilgrims.

The site is expected to be developed for housing and further excavation would take place during the building work.

via BBC News – Remains in Southwell ‘could be Roman temple’.

We first mentioned this back in December of 2008 (Roman Complex from Notts) and Adrian Murdoch (who mentioned on Twitter this was an “old story” was blogging about that one even before that (Roman temple at Southwell, Notts). It really doesn’t seem like there’s anything new here and it doesn’t appear that the relevant excavators’ website has been updated in a long time either.

Necropolis at Ostia!

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

The skinny: it dates from the second half of the first century A.D. (based on it apparently demonstrating a transition from cremation to inhumation) and most of the occupants seem to be low-status males (skeletal remains show evidence of a life of ‘hard labour’) …

Resti di una necropoli di epoca romana sono stati scoperti nel Parco dei Ravennati ad Ostia Antica. Il ritrovamento durante il lavori effettuati da Acea in via Gesualdo per la sistemazione di un nuovo impianto di illuminazione.

L’area di necropoli si stendeva lungo un muro ad angolo, di cui è stata rinvenuta soltanto la fondazione. Le tombe ad inumazione ed in limitatissimo numero anche ad incinerazione sono sistemate in modo caotico, con numerose riduzioni volontarie per far posto alle inumazioni più recenti.

La necropoli sembra risalire alla seconda metà del I secolo d.C., in un momento di passaggio tra l’uso del rito ad incinerazione a quello ad inumazione. A comunicarlo la Soprintendenza per i beni archeologici di Roma di Ostia.

«Dall’analisi antropologica preliminare gli inumati, nella maggior parte di sesso maschile, sono apparsi appartenere ad un livello sociale molto basso, per le numerose tracce di alterazioni scheletriche causate da stress biomeccanici, attribuiti ad un’attività lavorativa particolarmente pesante, che prevedeva un forte impegno funzionale degli arti – prosegue la nota – Inoltre, nell’area di cantiere più vicina alla Stazione della Ferrovia Roma-Lido sono state rinvenute alcune strutture murarie, rasate al livello delle fondazioni, riferibili a due ambienti adiacenti pavimentati con mosaici a disegni geometrici in bianco/nero. Queste strutture possono collegarsi alle altre visibili lungo via della Stazione di Ostia Antica ed a quelle scoperte in più punti negli anni passati nei pressi della Stazione e probabilmente riferibili ad ambito commerciale e residenziale. I dati scaturiti da questo intervento si sono rivelati particolarmente interessanti per la ricostruzione delle modalità di utilizzo del territorio immediatamente circostante alla città romana di Ostia Antica».

Lo scavo è stato realizzato su incarico Acea dalla Cooperativa archeologia, sotto la direzione scientifica della Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Roma – Sede di Ostia, con il supporto di un’antropologa collaboratrice del Servizio di Antropologia della Soprintendenza. E’ stato possibile mettere in luce la continuazione dell’ambito necropolare già evidenziato durante un precedente cantiere Acea, effettuato nel 2006 nell’angolo Sud-occidentale del Parco dei Ravennati.

via Ostia antica, trovati resti di una necropoli – Il Messaggero.

Roman Altar Stones from Musselburgh

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment
Drem
Image via Wikipedia

Interesting item from the BBC:

Roman altar stones dating back almost 2000 years have been found at a cricket pavilion in Musselburgh, East Lothian.

The stones have been described as the most significant find of their kind in the past 100 years.

Renovations were planned at the pavilion but archaeologists had to survey the protected building before work could begin.

Their unearthing of the stones and other artefacts has postponed the planned developments on the pavilion.

George Findlater, senior inspector of ancient monuments at Historic Scotland, said: “The stones have carvings and quite possibly inscriptions which can have a wealth of information on them, a lot of data about the people and their religion at that time.”

At least one of the altars is from the 2nd Century and is dedicated to the Roman God Jupiter.

Councillor Paul McLennan, cabinet member for community wellbeing at East Lothian Council, said: “The discovery of these remains is particularly exciting as it is not often that Roman altar stones are discovered during an archaeological excavation in Scotland.

“This helps with the emerging picture of life in and around the Roman fort at Inveresk during the second century.”

via Roman altar stones unearthed at Scottish cricket ground | BBC News .

PreRoman Tomb from Foligno

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

Most of the interesting stuff is in the first couple sentences of this one … a sixth-century female burial along with an iron fibula and amber necklace …

Una tomba a tumulo di eta’ preromana e’ stata rinvenuta a Foligno nel corso dei lavori di realizzazione della Variante Nord della citta’; all’interno della tomba e’ stata individuata una sepoltura femminile risalente al VI secolo avanti Cristo. Ritrovato anche il corredo, composto da fibule in ferro, una collana d’ambra, vasellame in impasto…

More: FOLIGNO SCOPERTA TOMBA ETA PREROMANA CON CORREDO E VASELLAME – Agenzia di stampa Asca.