Category Archives: EUROPE

ENGLAND, EUROPE, WORLD

A section of one of Britain’s most important Roman roads unearthed under Old Kent Road in south-east London

A section of one of Britain’s most important Roman roads unearthed under Old Kent Road in south-east London

Old Kent Road uk

Archaeologists have found a section of a Roman road under Old Kent Road in south-east  London, part of one of the most important roads built during the Roman period.

The 2,000-year-old road, known as Watling Street, was part of a route from the ancient Roman port at Dover through London to the West Midlands.

Considered one of Britain’s most important Roman roads, the accidental discovery was unearthed as a result of excavation work by Southwark Council and utilities company Veolia to install a low-carbon heat network.

Built shortly after the Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD, it proved very difficult for archaeologists to pinpoint evidence of the route it took, despite Roman roads typically being straight.

“In the planning for this project, we’d expected to solve this question but the extent of survival of the road is remarkable. We hope this project will answer some other archaeological questions in the borough,” explained Southwark Council’s in-house archaeology officer, Dr. Chris Constable, to BBC.

The road was discovered by a team of archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), with Dr. Constable providing invaluable advice and assistance.

Southwark Council says the discovery reveals is the first physical proof that sections of it still survive directly beneath its modern counterpart the Old Kent Road.

The ancient route lies directly beneath the modern Old Kent Road.

The well-preserved road segment, which is located south of the intersection of Old Kent Road and Ilderton Road, is roughly 19 feet (5.8 meters) wide by nearly 5 feet (1.4 meters) high.

Southwark Council said distinct layers could be seen and showed a solid foundation of compacted gravel sealed by two layers of chalk, before it was topped with another layer of compacted sand and gravel.

The original surface of the road would likely have been made from the same material and sat at a similar level to the modern road, but this has been lost, says Southwark Council. The base of the modern road was built directly on the Roman fabric.

Gillian King, director of archaeology at RPS Consulting Ltd, described the discovery as “a key finding for archaeological research for London”.

“The discovery of an intact section of Roman Wating Street directly under the current Old Kent Road has redrawn the Roman road map for Southwark and informs on Roman construction techniques generally,” she said.

Dave Taylor, MOLA’s project manager, said: “It’s amazing this section of road has survived for almost 2,000 years.”

He added: “There has been so much activity here over the past few hundred years, from sewers to power cables, tramlines and of course the building of the modern road, so we’re really excited to find such a substantial chunk of Roman material remaining.”

The discovery will be marked by a sign on the nearby Old Kent Road bridge. Find out more about the renewal of Old Kent Road at www.oldkentroad.org.uk

Cover Image Credit: Layers of chalk, sand, and gravel can be visible on the road. Southwark Council

EUROPE, FRANCE, WORLD

For the first time, researchers discovered bioarchaeological evidence of familial embalming in early modern France

For the first time, researchers discovered bioarchaeological evidence of familial embalming in early modern France

For the first time, researchers discovered bioarchaeological evidence of familial embalming in early modern France

A unique discovery has revealed new insights into the burial rituals of early modern Western Europe: For the first time, researchers have been able to provide bioarchaeological evidence of the familial embalming of infants and adults in early modern France.

For a long time, embalming practices were considered exotic rituals associated primarily with the ancient Egyptians or cultures in South America.

New finds at the Château des Milandes in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Dordogne, France, now prove that these techniques were also used in Europe.

The remains of seven adults and five children discovered in a cellar, as well as the remains of a single mummified buried woman, all belonging to the aristocratic Caumont family, provide researchers at the Austrian Academy of  Sciences (ÖAW) with valuable information. About embalming practices in the 16th and 17th centuries.

‘These finds provide unique insights into embalming techniques,’ says Caroline Partiot from the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

‘Our examinations of a complete individual and the almost 2,000 fragments show a careful and highly standardized technical treatment of the deceased, which is similar for adults and children. This reveals expertise that has been handed down over two centuries,’ says Caroline Partiot from the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Using the skeleton of the individuals in the crypt and the individual female body, which was buried alone, the researchers were able to examine the modus operandi of embalming based on the cut marks on the entire skeleton.

Particularly noteworthy is the precise skinning, which covered the entire body, including the upper and lower limbs down to the fingertips and toes.

Steps of the embalming procedure and selection of bone parts showing signs of the operation.

These methods are similar to the procedures described in 1708 by the then-leading French surgeon Pierre Dionis.

Research has now shown that this was used in an 18th-century autopsy in Marseille. “It is remarkable that the tradition has persisted for at least two centuries,” explains the archaeologist.

The discovery of the tomb and the analysis of the skeletons show that this practice was a deeply rooted tradition within the Caumont family, which enjoyed high social status at the time. Partiot explains: ‘The treatment indicates that embalming was not so much for long-term preservation, but rather to be able to display the corpse during funeral ceremonies.’

This is because multiple embalmings in one and the same family are rare, and the only known case in medieval Western Europe in which multiple embalmings were carried out in one and the same family with children is the Medici family in Italy in the 15th century. “The application to family members, regardless of age at death and gender, also reflects the acquisition of this status by birth,” emphasizes Partiot.

Partiot, C., Bessou, M., Kacki, S. et al. First bioarchaeological evidence of the familial practice of embalming of infant and adult relatives in Early Modern France. Sci Rep 14, 27075 (2024).

ENGLAND, EUROPE, WORLD

A section of one of Britain’s most important Roman roads unearthed under Old Kent Road in south-east London

A section of one of Britain’s most important Roman roads unearthed under Old Kent Road in south-east London

A section of one of Britain’s most important Roman roads unearthed under Old Kent Road in south-east London

Archaeologists have found a section of a Roman road under Old Kent Road in south-east London, part of one of the most important roads built during the Roman period. The 2,000-year-old road, known as Watling Street, was part of a route from the ancient Roman port at Dover through London to the West Midlands.

Considered one of Britain’s most important Roman roads, the accidental discovery was unearthed as a result of excavation work by Southwark Council and utilities company Veolia to install a low-carbon heat network.

Built shortly after the Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD, it proved very difficult for archaeologists to pinpoint evidence of the route it took, despite Roman roads typically being straight.

“In the planning for this project, we’d expected to solve this question but the extent of survival of the road is remarkable. We hope this project will answer some other archaeological questions in the borough,” explained Southwark Council’s in-house archaeology officer, Dr. Chris Constable, to BBC.

The road was discovered by a team of archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), with Dr. Constable providing invaluable advice and assistance.

Southwark Council says the discovery reveals is the first physical proof that sections of it still survive directly beneath its modern counterpart the Old Kent Road.

The ancient route lies directly beneath the modern Old Kent Road. Image Credit: Southwark Council

The well-preserved road segment, which is located south of the intersection of Old Kent Road and Ilderton Road, is roughly 19 feet (5.8 meters) wide by nearly 5 feet (1.4 meters) high.

Southwark Council said distinct layers could be seen and showed a solid foundation of compacted gravel sealed by two layers of chalk, before it was topped with another layer of compacted sand and gravel.

The original surface of the road would likely have been made from the same material and sat at a similar level to the modern road, but this has been lost, says Southwark Council. The base of the modern road was built directly on the Roman fabric.

Gillian King, director of archaeology at RPS Consulting Ltd, described the discovery as “a key finding for archaeological research for London”.

“The discovery of an intact section of Roman Wating Street directly under the current Old Kent Road has redrawn the Roman road map for Southwark and informs on Roman construction techniques generally,” she said.

Dave Taylor, MOLA’s project manager, said: “It’s amazing this section of road has survived for almost 2,000 years.”

He added: “There has been so much activity here over the past few hundred years, from sewers to power cables, tramlines and of course the building of the modern road, so we’re really excited to find such a substantial chunk of Roman material remaining.”

The discovery will be marked by a sign on the nearby Old Kent Road bridge. Find out more about the renewal of Old Kent Road at www.oldkentroad.org.uk

Cover Image Credit: Layers of chalk, sand, and gravel can be visible on the road. Southwark Council

EUROPE, TURKEY, WORLD

1800 Years Old Roman Milestone Used as Seat at Turkish Mosque

1800 Years Old Roman Milestone Used as Seat at Turkish Mosque

1800 Years Old Roman Milestone Used as Seat at Turkish Mosque

A milestone from the Roman Emperor Gordianus III period, which dates to 239 AD, was discovered in the Fatsa district of Ordu province in northeastern Türkiye.

Roman milestones, or “milliarium,” were significant landmarks along the extensive road system of the Roman Empire. These stone markers made it easier for travelers to find their way through the extensive and intricate network of Roman roads by showing the distance to the closest town or city.

These milestones, which were typically placed one Roman mile apart (1,480 meters or 4,850 feet), were marked with details like the road’s name, the distance to the next destination, and occasionally the name of the emperor or the official in charge of building it. Many of these milestones have survived and provide valuable insights into the engineering, culture, and history of ancient Rome.

It was determined that the 1800-year-old milestone was used as a seat by the mosque congregation and citizens for years.

The stone discovered near the Laleli Central Mosque in the Bolaman neighborhood of Fatsa district was noticed by Aydın Bal, a literature teacher at Fatsa Cahit Zarifoğlu High School.

The authorities who took action upon Bal’s notification were Fatsa Municipality Culture Director Cevat Erbil and Ordu University Art History Department Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seçkin Evcim examined the stone and determined that it was a milestone from the Roman period.

The inscription on the stone was translated by Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Sami Öztürk, an epigraphy and linguistics expert from Marmara University. The emperor’s name was honored and this road was rebuilt by him, according to the translated stone inscription.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seçkin Evcim stated that they think that the stone was erected for the construction of a natural harbor road between Bolaman and Yalıköy during the Roman period and said, “The stone found in the second mile of this road was erected for the construction of a natural harbor road between Bolaman and Yalıköy. Unfortunately, the stone was not in its original place; it was found in the 1970s while the mosque’s foundation was being laid and then it was tilted on its side and used for seating.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Evcim stated that a milestone was discovered for the first time in Ordu and that the stone was taken to the Ordu Museum with the support of Fatsa Municipality. Since the stone is not in its original position, additional research will be evaluated in the future.

The history of Fatsa goes back to antiquity, when the coast was settled by Cimmerians, and Pontic Greeks in the centuries B.C. Under Nero, the kingdom became a Roman province in A.D. 62.

In about 295, Diocletian (r. 284–305) divided the province into three smaller provinces, one of which was Pontus Polemoniacus, called after the Roman client-king Polemonium I, which was its administrative capital.

EUROPE, WORLD

2,300-year-old Punic tomb complex found during works on car park for staff

2,300-year-old Punic tomb complex found during works on car park for staff

2,300-year-old Punic tomb complex found during works on car park for staff

A 2,300-year-old Punic tomb was discovered during work in a car park near Mater Dei Hospital in Msida, Malta.

The archaeological discovery was made during trenching works near Mater Dei Hospital while preparing the site for the installation of a new potable water line.

The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) has been overseeing the site since the start of the project, ensuring the protection and study of any potential discoveries during development works.

An excavation revealed a chamber hewn out of solid natural rock. After additional examination by the SCH’s on-site archaeology monitors, it was found that the chamber was a component of a larger burial complex.

The discovery consists of three burial chambers, each accessed through a central shaft, characteristic of Punic and Roman tombs. It is thought to have been used for multiple inhumations during the Punic and Roman periods. Remarkably, the entrance to each chamber was sealed with original slabs, and the contents inside included human remains and grave goods.

The burial chambers were meticulously excavated over two weeks by a committed team of SCH archaeologists and osteologists. The human remains were primarily inhumations, with some cremated remains stored in urns.

The fact that many of the bones were arranged in a methodical manner raises the possibility that earlier remains were moved to make room for later burials. There were several inhumations in each chamber, with at least six in Chambers 2 and 3 and at least two in Chamber 1. A small collection of grave goods and cremation urns were also discovered, offering important new information about the burial customs of the time.

A team of experts, has been working on site to excavate, document, and interpret the remains, some of which have been transferred to the laboratory of the superintendence for further analysis.

Researchers will examine the remains for evidence of the age, sex, and health of the individuals, and conduct DNA analysis.

“The findings, which include skeletal remains, cremation urns, and other funerary artifacts, provide valuable insight into the ancient community that once inhabited the region.

Preliminary analysis indicates a Punic timeline, although some artifacts suggest an extended period of use into the early Roman era,” the Foundation for Medical Services and SCH said.

Efforts are underway to ensure the tomb is retained in its entirety, with plans for permanent controlled access to allow for continued study and preservation of this significant archaeological site.

EUROPE, GREECE, WORLD

Alexander the Great’s Sacred Purple Tunic Found in a 2,400-year-old Macedonian Tomb?

Alexander the Great’s Sacred Purple Tunic Found in a 2,400-year-old Macedonian Tomb?

Alexander the Great’s Sacred Purple Tunic Found in a 2,400-year-old Macedonian Tomb?

Archaeologists have found a sacred chiton (tunic) in a 2400-year-old royal tomb in the Macedonian city of Vergina in northern Greece, and it could belong to Alexander the Great!

Archaeologists have known for decades that Alexander the Great’s family has a close connection to the three royal tombs located in Vergina. However, it has been more than fifty years since they were able to agree on who they belonged to.

The inhabitants of the 4th century BC Royal Tombs were the subject of another study earlier this year. According to the results of the research, the tombs contained the remains of Alexander’s father, stepmother, half-sisters, and son.

Under the direction of Antonis Bartsiokas of Democritus University of Thrace, a team of archaeologists identified a purple-dyed cotton cloth that corresponds to historical accounts of the sarapis, a ceremonial garment worn by the great Persian kings that Alexander took after defeating Darius III of Persia.

The sacred “chiton” was found in the golden ossuary of Tomb II alongside the remains of a man and a gold wreath.

Through in-depth analysis of the tunic, the tombs, and historical records, researchers have finally been able to link this royal garment to Alexander the Great.

Additionally, huntite, a bright white mineral used in ancient Persia, was found between the layers of the textile, reinforcing the idea that this garment has an eastern origin.

The remains of a royal cloak discovered in Tomb II may have belonged to Alexander the Great, according to a study published in The Journal of Field Archaeology.

An international team of archaeologists and osteologists set out to identify the tomb’s occupants after it was found inside a golden ossuary that contained male remains that were initially thought to be those of Philip II.

Façade of Vergina’s Tomb II.

This finding has significant ramifications because it may indicate that many of the items discovered in Tomb II belonged to Alexander the Great rather than Philip II, as was previously thought.

Research suggests that Tomb II, located in the Great Tumulus of Vergina, does not house the remains of Philip II, Alexander’s father, but rather those of his half-brother, Philip III Arrhidaeus, who inherited several symbols of power from Alexander after his death.

A golden diadem, a scepter, and a golden oak wreath are among the items discovered in the tomb; these items are all referenced in historical accounts as being a part of Alexander’s royal attire. But because the sarapis had such symbolic meaning in the Persian court, their discovery is especially significant.

The sarapis was a purple tunic with a white stripe down the center, reserved exclusively for Persian kings, and Alexander’s adoption of it marked his dominance over the vast Persian Empire.

A figure, most likely Alexander, is shown hunting in a purple sarapis with two white stripes on a frieze in Tomb II. The conclusion that the tunic belonged to Alexander the Great is further supported by the fact that it matches historical accounts, as do other relics, such as a golden oak wreath discovered in Tomb II.

A garment of such immense value would likely have been inherited by a close family member. After Alexander’s death, the Macedonian army crowned his half-brother, Philip III Arrhidaeus, as king. According to The Greek Reporter, he most likely brought Alexander’s belongings back to Greece, including the royal scepter and tunic.

This new study provides answers to lingering questions surrounding the Royal Tombs of Vergina. It confirms that Alexander the Great was not buried there. Instead, Tomb I holds the remains of Philip II, his wife Cleopatra, and their newborn child.

Based on royal symbols and osteological data, Tomb II contains the remains of King Philip III Arrhidaeus and his wife Adea Eurydice, while Alexander IV is buried in Tomb III.

ENGLAND, EUROPE, WORLD

Seven metal detectorists found 2,584 silver coins in a southwest England field “the most expensive treasure ever found in the United Kingdom”

Seven metal detectorists found 2,584 silver coins in a southwest England field “the most expensive treasure ever found in the United Kingdom”

Seven metal detectorists found 2,584 silver coins in a southwest England field “the most expensive treasure ever found in the United Kingdom”

In early 2019, seven metal detectorists found a cache of 2,584 silver coins dating to the Norman Conquest that had lain in the ground for almost 1,000 years in a field in the Chew Valley in southern England.

Now, the silver pennies have sold for $5.6 million—making them the most expensive treasure ever found in the United Kingdom.

Adam Staples and the other detectorists reported their “unprecedented” discovery to officials using the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme, a record of archaeological finds made by members of the public, according to a statement from the museum.

“It’s fantastic, unbelievable,” said Staples. “It has definitely changed my life. It was like holding history in your hand. And, obviously, the financial side of it is brilliant as well.”

The coins are a mix of Saxon and Norman currency, showing a turning point in English history and covering the transition from Saxon to Norman rule (between 1066 and 1068).

Experts believe that the coins were likely buried for safekeeping during the turmoil of the conquest.

Michael Lewis, head of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, said in the statement that the find is “incredible.”

Lewis said the coin hoard will help deepen understanding of the most famous date in English history: 1066, the year William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, replacing England’s Saxon monarchs with Norman French rulers.

Amal Khreisheh, curator of archaeology at the South West Heritage Trust, with some of the conserved coins.

Though the invasion marked a historic schism, the coins in the hoard are remarkably similar whether they were minted before or after the conquest.

Just under half the coins depict Harold II of 1066, the last crowned Saxon king of England. Just over half feature William I (also known as William the Conqueror), the first Norman king. Other than the ruler they depict, the two types of coins are quite similar.

The AP notes that each has an emblem on one side and a picture of a king’s head in profile on the other, while Harold’s has the word “peace,” which is written as “pax,” and William’s has an ornate cross.

“The hoard symbolizes a pivotal moment in English history, and we are delighted to have made this acquisition so that it may be enjoyed by generations to come,” Sam Astill, chief executive of the South West Heritage Trust, said in the statement.

Named for the rural region in which it was discovered, the Chew Valley Hoard was purchased for the country using funds from the charitable division of the British National Lottery. It will have a permanent home at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton, 130 miles southwest of London, after being on exhibit at the British Museum and other museums across the United Kingdom.

EUROPE, WORLD

Archaeologists Discovered a Luxury Roman Village in Southeastern Sicily

Archaeologists Discovered a Luxury Roman Village in Southeastern Sicily

Archaeologists Discovered a Luxury Roman Village in Southeastern Sicily

In the province of Catania, archaeologists have excavated the remains of a Roman house with a mosaic floor dating from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD.

The house was part of a whole Roman village and was situated close to the town of Vizzini in southeastern Sicily, at an elevation of almost 500 meters above sea level.

Archaeologists from the University of Göttingen have been researching how people lived and traded in ancient times in Sicily. for more than 20 years. Now, they have made another significant discovery: a Roman village with an area of about 15 hectares.

Since 2022, the Göttingen team has been conducting research here under the direction of Prof. Dr. Johannes Bergemann from the Archaeological Institute.

First, possible ancient archaeological sites were inspected throughout the Vizzini region. In 2023, a geophysical survey was carried out following surface investigations of the sites that were identified.

This survey detected anomalies in the Earth’s geomagnetic field and created detailed images of the subsurface without the need for excavation.

These geophysical measurements led the research team to the remains of the buildings that have now been excavated.

The building extended 30 by 13 meters, and its remains are just below the current surface. Inside, there is a representative room of nearly 100 square meters, with a floor covered in mosaics. Unfortunately, parts of the mosaic were destroyed by plowing, says Bergemann.

Göttingen excavations in Sicily in the province of Catania near the town of Vizzini.

There were other comparable structures nearby, according to the geophysical measurements. Between the 2nd and around the 6th century AD, people lived here at a high level: there were columns built with rounded bricks, coated with stucco, and probably painted, similar to what you see in Pompeii, says Bergemann. We have found remains of fountains with marble ponds, as well as luxury Roman ceramics known as Terra Sigillata.

It is a Roman village that is roughly 15 hectares small. Large rural settlements and villas, as well as Roman agricultural production facilities that frequently produced significant yields, replaced the ancient Greek cities during the Roman era. Long-distance trade in the globalized Roman Empire made this possible.

Numerous small storage sites emerged along the southern coast of Sicily for this purpose. ‘This new settlement system, which was connected to the interior by long-distance roads, only existed for a few centuries. The house we discovered near Vizzini is an important testimony to this era,’ says Bergemann.

The archaeology team presented its findings for the first time on 16 October 2024 in Vizzini Town Hall. At the University of Göttingen, Bergemann and other members of the research team will present their findings on 3 February 2025 as part of the public archaeological lecture series in the Old Auditorium.