Posted on 03/29/2010 12:52:22 PM PDT by decimon
The lead coffin archaeologists found in the abandoned ancient city of Gabii, Italy could contain a gladiator or bishop.
ANN ARBOR, Mich.In the ruins of a city that was once Rome's neighbor, archaeologists last summer found a 1,000-pound lead coffin.
Who or what is inside is still a mystery, said Nicola Terrenato, the University of Michigan professor of classical studies who leads the projectthe largest American dig in Italy in the past 50 years.
The sarcophagus will soon be transported to the American Academy in Rome, where engineers will use heating techniques and tiny cameras in an effort to gain insights about the contents without breaking the coffin itself.
"We're very excited about this find," Terrenato said. "Romans as a rule were not buried in coffins to begin with and when they did use coffins, they were mostly wooden. There are only a handful of other examples from Italy of lead coffins from this agethe second, third or fourth century A.D. We know of virtually no others in this region."
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The site of Gabii, situated on undeveloped land 11 miles east of Rome in modern-day Lazio, was a major city that pre-dates Rome but seems to have waned as the Roman Empire grew.
Studying Gabii gives researchers a glimpse into pre-Roman life and offers clues to how early Italian cities formed. It also allows them broader access to more substantial archaeological layers or strata. In Rome, layers of civilization were built on top of each other, and archaeologists are not able or allowed to disturb them.
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(Excerpt) Read more at ns.umich.edu ...
How do you translate “Typhoid Mary” into latin?
So great it needs repeating, ROFLMAO!
That is a SCUD missile.
Sure there is. There's got to be plenty of teenagers around for zombies to eat. And in any group of teens there will be...
A tough, square-jawed, stupidly good looking white-male, leader-type. And likely the same-type female. AND...they'll be from a restrictive home - think abusive military-type father, or maybe some sort of minister.
An incredibly smart Asian kid. Might be able to substitute a nerdy, skinny white guy. But only if he has glasses, and if they fall off at the worst possible times.
A tough, but sensitive Latino girl (may be black, or from PR)
A big dumb white football-type player.
A wisecracking black guy.
A sterotypical gay male, for comic relief.
And at least 1/2 dozen good-looking dumb blonde/brunette cheerleader types that like to run around with their clothes off.
Also, all of these people will be in High School, but will look about 25 or so, with no acne or other physical issues. They'll all have cars and be able to drive. All of them will drink, often to excess (and to the delight of the zombies) AND all of them will believe in hopping in and out of bed with each other, seemingly at random.
Wasn't that the way cliques in your HS were? Certainly was at mine.
I'll leave it up to you to pick which stereotype I was.
cardiff giant?
Hey don’t forget a big spotted great dane dog who will do the most dangerous jobs if you give him a scooby snack...”reah, reah, raggy!!”
If the Coffin Plate says ‘Pandora’ I would think it would not be wise to open.
I’ll bet you were the skinny white kid with the unsecure glasses and the big Adam’s apple...or Velma!(LOL)
Dog: "Woof"
Kid: "Grandma fell in the well??"
Dog: "Woof Woof!"
Kid: "And she can't climb out?"
Dog: "Bark!"
kid: "And she has a broken leg? Oh No! Let's get the sheriff!"
And of course, the sheriff can't be bothered with such a thing. Too bad he doesn't speak "Dog".
Jimmy Hoffa?
Nah, I was one of the cheerleaders that liked to run around with my clothes off.
Who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb PING!
I’m sure all the gay comic relief guys liked to watch...(tee hee)!
LOL. Now that’s funny, I don’t care who you are.
If I get to choose it would be one of the female half naked cheerleaders.
But you would have to be a really dense blond/brunette half naked cheerleader to choose a screen name like “wbill.”
I do admit I forgot the Goonies vs. Michael Myers plot theme.
Sadly, Ray Milland is no longer with us...
I bet it’s a clown casket. Think of how many clowns they have in that thing and what will happen if they open it!
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