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Archaeologists discover Roman sanctuary and cemetery in Belgium

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Archaeologists have discovered evidence of a Roman sanctuary and cemetery in Elewijt near Zemst, Belgium.

The team were conducting a soil investigation on the site of a now demolished cycling track in the Van Innis sports park.

Elewijt was first settled by the Romans during the 1st century AD as a vicus (rural settlement), situated on the junction of the diverticulum road connecting the eastern city of Tongeren with the western city of Boulogne.

The vicus was destroyed during the end of the 3rd century AD by Germanic tribes and abandoned, with the more modern village being established less than a mile away during the early Middle Ages.

Archaeologist, Kylian Verhaevert, has led the excavations which uncovered traces of burial grounds, circular ditches, and a settlement dating from the Iron Age. The team have also found a Roman cemetery with up to thirty burials and evidence of an open-air sanctuary for worshipping the Roman pantheon of gods.

“These finds are unique to Zemst,” said archaeologist Christof Vanhoutte. “Even in the whole of Flanders, such structures are extremely rare and are almost never encountered. The last time this was recorded archaeologically dates back to before the turn of the century.”

According to the researchers, the cemetery contains cremation burials, where according to tradition, the deceased was placed on cremation pyre and the ashes would then be deposited in urns and buried.

Speaking to Nieuwsblad, Kylian Verhaevert, said: “Nearby we also found some jars, shards of glass and a cloak pin. There is also a Roman or Carolingian well, which we will drain for further research. That is much more than the preliminary investigation suggested.”

Header Image Credit : Dominique van Haesendonck

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Archaeology

Archaeologists find five Bronze Age axes in the forests of Kociewie

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According to an announcement by the Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, archaeologists have discovered five Bronze Age axes in Starogard Forest District, located in Kociewie, Poland.

The initial discovery was made by history enthusiast, Denis Konkol, who notified local authorities from the Pomeranian provincial conservator of monuments. In Poland, it is forbidden to conduct an amateur search for artefacts using a metal detector, either for commercial or for personal use unless licensed by local authorities, requiring all finds to be reported which become the property of the state.

Upon inspection of the discovery site, archaeologists found five axes within a radius of several dozen metres at a depth of 20 to 30 centimetres beneath a layer of turf and humus.

Igor Strzok, Pomeranian provincial conservator of monuments, said: “The extraction of these finds took place under the archaeological supervision of our colleagues from the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments. This means that we prevented possible destruction of the site.”

The five axes date from between 1700 and 1300 BC and were likely a ritual deposit of a cult nature, however, the archaeologists haven’t ruled out that the axes could also be a deposit related to trade.

According to the announcement, the objects are tautušiai type axes associated with Baltic cultures from today’s Lithuania or north-eastern Poland. Defined by their considerable size, the axes feature a slim handle with raised edges and a wide blade.

Previous excavations of Bronze Age sites in the region generally find bracelets or breastplates, while the most recent unearthing of a weapon or Bronze Age tool dates back 20 years, highlighting the scarcity of such finds in the region.

The axes are scheduled to be transported to the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk, where experts will conduct a thorough examination.

Header Image Credit : Stargard Forest District

This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily

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Mosaic depicting lions found at ancient Prusias ad Hypium

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Archaeologists have uncovered a mosaic depicting lions during excavations at ancient Prusias ad Hypium, located in modern-day Konuralp, Turkey.

Prusias ad Hypium was a city in ancient Bithynia which was annexed by the Roman Republic in 74 BC. The city flourished as a significant trading hub, maintaining autonomy in its local governance and even issuing its own currency.

The city was rediscovered during the 19th century, with recent excavations being conducted by the archaeology department of Düzce University under the patronage of the Konuralp Museum, and supported by the Municipality of Düzce.

Excavations indicate that the city exhibits characteristics of a Hellenistic polis. Among the surviving remains are remnants of the city walls, a gate within the fortifications, an open-air theatre, an aqueduct, and a Roman bridge.

A recent archaeological study has focused on the theatre, known locally as the “The Forty Stairs”. The theatre was built during the Hellenistic period (300–30 BC) and was expanded in the Roman period.

The study has uncovered the remains of a mosaic depicting a pair of lions, which was found in a room of the portico in the middle of the theatre axis.

The room has a rectangular shape and is adorned with a mosaic covering the entire floor with a geometric floral pattern. At the centre is a mosaic frame depicting the pair of lions either side of a pine tree. Hanging from the tree is a tympanum (a drum or tambourine), and on the left branch is a pan flute.

According to the researchers, the room was dedicated to the cult of Dionysus. During Dionysian processions, it was common to observe Silenus and maenads participating by playing musical instruments such as the tympanum and pan flute.

Header Image Credit : Konuralp Museum

This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily

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