Archaeology
Republican era domus found in Rome
Archaeologists have discovered an ornately decorated Roman domus between Rome’s Palatine Hill and the forum.
According to a statement by the Culture Ministry, the Colosseum Archaeological Park’s research project uncovered the structure within the vicinity of the Horrea Agrippiana warehouse complex along the Vicus Tuscus.
The domus was built in multiple phases, between the late 2nd century BC and the end of the 1st century BC during Rome’s Republican age.
Encircling an atrium/garden is the most impressive feature of the structure – the “specus aestivus”, a space for entertaining and banqueting. The specus aestivus has been designed to replicate a grotto, which was initially adorned with impressive water features, facilitated by the presence of fistulas (lead pipes) running through the walls.
Alfonsina Russo, director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, said: “The discovery confirms what ancient sources said about the presence of extensive residences of representatives of Roman senatorial families in the northwestern area of the Palatine.”
Also uncovered is a “rustic” wall mosaic from the 2nd century BC, which depicts possible naval scenes and imagery of conflict, suggesting that the domus owner was a high status nobleman or soldier. The mosaic has been made using sea shells, Egyptian blue tesserae, precious glass, tiny fragments of marble and other coloured stones.
Within the four delineated sections demarcated by pilasters (columns with square bases affixed to the wall) are depictions of weaponry, trumpets, and ship prows embellished with tridents and rudders, alluding to a dual triumph both on land and at sea. The large upper bezel also depicts a representation of a city overlooking a sea, crossed by three large ships, one of which has its sails raised.
“We will work intensely to make this place, among the most evocative of ancient Rome, accessible to the public as soon as possible,” added Russo.
Header Image Credit : Ministry of Culture
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
A study of archaeological sites in Winchester, England, has revealed that red squirrels served as a host for Mycobacterium leprae strains that caused leprosy in people.
Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded diseases in human history and is still prevalent to this day in Asia, Africa, and South America.
It has previously been suggested that the extensive trade of red squirrel fur, greatly valued during medieval times, could have contributed to the leprosy epidemic in medieval Europe.
The results of the study, published in the journal Current Biology, studied 25 human and 12 squirrel samples from two medieval sites in Winchester.
During this period, the city had strong connections to the fur trade and housed the leprosarium, a hospital that treated people with Hansen’s disease (leprosy) caused by Mycobacterium leprae bacteria.
Verena Schuenemann of the University of Basel in Switzerland, said: “With our genetic analysis we were able to identify red squirrels as the first ancient animal host of leprosy.”
The study found that the medieval red squirrel strains were more closely related to human strains in Winchester, rather than to modern squirrel strains from England – suggesting an independent circulation of Mycobacterium leprae strains.
“Our findings highlight the importance of involving archaeological material, in particular animal remains, into studying the long-term zoonotic potential of this disease, as only a direct comparison of ancient human and animal strains allows reconstructions of potential transmission events across time,” says Sarah Inskip of the University of Leicester, UK, a co-author on the study.
Header Image Credit : Shutterstock
Sources : Current Biology, Urban, Blom, and Avanzi et al.: “Ancient Mycobacterium leprae genome reveals medieval English red squirrels as animal leprosy host.” https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)00446-9
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
Archaeologists from the Uncovering Roman Carlisle project have discovered a rare lump of Tyrian purple at the grounds of the Carlisle Cricket Club in Carlisle, England.
The project is a community supported excavation by Wardell Armstrong, focusing on uncovering a Roman bath house found in 2017.
The bath house is located near the Roman fort of Uxelodunum (meaning “high fort”), also known as Petriana, in the Carlisle district of Stanwix.
Uxelodunum was constructed to control the territories west of present-day Carlisle and an important crossing on the River Eden. The fort was garrisoned by the Ala Petriana, a 1,000-strong cavalry unit, whose members were all granted Roman citizenship for valour on the field.
Previous excavations at the bath house have discovered colossal sandstone heads depicting Roman gods, in addition to engraved gems known as intaglios, figurines, animal bones, and imperial-stamped tiles.
During the latest season of excavations, archaeologists found a mysterious lump of a soft purple substance. The substance was tested by researchers from Newcastle University, revealing that it contained levels of Bromine and beeswax.
According to the researchers, the substance is Tyrian purple, a coloured dye associated with the Imperial Court in the Roman Empire. Tyrian purple is secreted by several species of predatory sea snails in the family Muricidae, rock snails originally known by the name Murex.
Frank Giecco, Technical Director at Wardell Armstrong, said: “For millennia, Tyrian Purple was the world’s most expensive and sought after colour. It’s presence in Carlisle combined with other evidence from the excavation all strengthens the hypothesis that the building was in some way associated with the Imperial Court of the Emperor Septimius Severus which was located in York and possibly relates to an Imperial visit to Carlisle.”
“It’s the only example we know of in Northern Europe – possibly the only example of a solid sample of the pigment in the form of unused paint pigment anywhere in the Roman Empire. Examples have been found of it in wall paintings (like in Pompeii) and some high status painted coffins from the Roman province of Egypt,” said Giecco.
Header Image Credit : Wardell Armstrong
Sources : Wardell Armstrong
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
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