Discoveries and news in Rome

Six ancient buildings in Pompeii, which had undergone renovation work since 2012, could finally be put on public display. The official inauguration took place on Christmas Day in the presence of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

More than 12 graves have been discovered in Ostia, a Roman port city at the mouth of the Tiber River. Dated to the 3rd-4th century CE the graves probably belong to Christians. They surround a central grave that belonged to someone of religious and social importance.

The Greek Ministry of Culture said a large fragment of a mosaic showing a chariot in motion has been discovered in a funerary complex at Amphipolis in northern Greece. It is made of white, black, blue, red and yellow pebbles. Scientists estimate that the work dates back to the last quarter of the 4th century CE.

In Gonio, south of Batumi, a team of researchers discovered baths built and used by the Roman military about 2,000 years ago. – We were surprised by both the age of the foundation and the high quality of its workmanship – told PAP Dr Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski, head of excavations.

Archaeologists have confirmed the presence of a Roman military camp in eastern Germany. An area of ​​about 18 hectares, discovered near the town of Hachelbich in Thuringia, could accommodate a Roman legion, i.e. about 5,000 people. The location of the camp in a wide valley supplemented by a few natural obstacles suggests that the site was intended to be only a staging area for future eastward expansion.

Scientists accidentally found evidence of the existence of the so-called “Egyptian blue”, the first known artificial pigment. The discovery was made in a collection of paintings from Roman Egypt.

In Egypt, a new interesting discovery was made – a statue of a smiling sphinx was excavated from the ground. The object was discovered near the Temple of Hathor, in a tomb in the province of Qena, in southern Egypt. Interestingly, researchers believe that the sculpture may represent the emperor Claudius (reigned 41-54 CE).

The ruins of the 120m long Roman arcade – the longest in Britain – were found in 2016 in Colchester during excavation work prior to the construction of new apartments.

In western Germany, near the city of Bad Ems, well-preserved, sharpened wooden stakes were found that protected Roman legionaries in a fort from barbarian attacks.

Mr. Maciej Podgórski has recently discovered unusual finds – objects dating back to Roman times. The discovery took place in the State Forests of the Tomaszów Forestry Inspectorate near Ulow (Lubelskie Voivodship in Poland).