Discoveries and news in Rome
All the latest information about discoveries from the world of ancient Romans. I encourage you to let me know about any Roman news and to indicate any corrections or inaccuracies. I try to search for material everywhere, but it is natural that not everything will be noticed by me.
Complete genome of Phoenician from 2,500 years ago has been selected
Scientists selected the complete mitochondrial genome of a 2500-year-old Phoenician. The study found that the man had European ancestors. This is the first ancient DNA recovered from Phoenician remains.
Roman cemetery in Damascus was discovered
In 2016, a limestone cemetery dating back to Roman times was discovered in the city of Rakhleh in the Qatana region of Syria (40 km west of Damascus). The discoverer is a farmer who came across the tomb while working in the field.
New projects in Ostia Antica
In the coming months, projects will be implemented in the port of Ostia Antica, in which the Italian government, private organizations and international universities will actively participate. Ostia was a large port of ancient Rome that received huge shipments of grain, wine and olive oil from North Africa and South Italy to feed one million of the city’s inhabitants.
New excavations in Roman baths
In 2016, archaeologists began excavating two sites in Bath, England. These places were completely forgotten for over half a century.
Etruscan stele was discovered in Italy
Archaeological work on the site of a former temple at Poggio Colla in Tuscany has brought a discovery. A 1.2-meter stele with an Etruscan inscription was excavated from under the ground.
Unknown Roman treasures will see light of day
Hidden for decades, one of the world’s oldest collections of Roman statues and sculptures is so dazzling that an eminent archaeologist once disguised himself as a garbage collector just to get a glimpse of it.
Ancient Roman Church after renovation
In 2016, after 36 years of restoration, the ancient Church of Santa Maria located in the Forum Romanum was opened to the public. The building dates back to the 1st century CE.
Roman painting discovered in London
In 2016, during excavations on 21 Lime Street in London, a fragment of a Roman fresco was discovered that dates back to the 1st century CE.