The lead coffin archaeologists found in the abandoned ancient city of Gabii, Italy could contain a gladiator or bishop. 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 project—the 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 age—the 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 ...
Like the leader-type whose incredibly restrictive white male (Army/Marine/Minister) father - in between (beating/abusing/molesting) them - taught them how to shoot. Anything. From a .22 to a RPG. With perfect accuracy - unless it's better for the plot that they miss. And said weapon will always have the correct ammo, in exactly the correct amounts.
And the cars that conveniently don't start.
And the car keys that are always easy to find. Don't you always leave yours above the sun visor? OR the car keys that are impossibly hard to find, as well. "DAMN! I left them in the house, on the table, right next to the zombie axe-murderers! I hate it when that happens...."
I'm sure that there are plenty more points that I've missed. Something to do with "Why would a bunch of teenagers who - in real life - would have NOTHING to do with each other, wind up at a deserted farmhouse/camp/wilderness road, etc etc etc" But, I'll leave it to other FReepers to fill in the holes. :-)
bookmark for later
Because everyone here just knows that the Civil War had nothing to do with slavery, that every cop is just a thug with a badge and gun, and the Catholic Church is at the root of every global conspiracy.
Really. I saw some movie-or-other with Tom Hanks on that last one. ;-) Hollywood wouldn't lie to me, would they?
I love the theme on this thread. I can just imagine that 10,000 Roman Centurions paid with their lives to get the thing in that coffin in there and sealed up. Now, along comes Bill Nye the Science Guy. “Hold muh beaker and watch this, kids.”
Later, he was contained in a special puzzle box with the rest of his buddies.
“An archaeological mystery in a half-ton lead coffin”
maybe the guy was radioactive
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 age—the second, third or fourth century A.D. We know of virtually no others in this region.”
Don’t open it!
Think repo man - great movie
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Thanks decimon. |
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What reason would anybody possibly have to bury a gladiator or bishop in a half-ton lead coffin??
Thanks; I’m here all week. Don’t forget to tip your Census taker.
He stunk?
Are they cows?
LOL. Dunno, but I’ll let you know if one shows up at the door.
Who or what is inside is still a mystery, said Nicola Terrenato, the University of Michigan professor of classical studies who leads the project—the largest American dig in Italy in the past 50 years.
So really they have only one lead in this investigation. =)
Thank you, H. Beam Piper.
Well, he did manage to get all the prisoners released. Didn’t bang the hot sister from Copenhagen, total letdown.
When ya bury someone in a half-ton lead coffin, you really, really don’t want whoever it is to dig their way out. Probably a cursed mummy from Egypt. I’m just glad cursed mummies can’t swim. At least I hope not.
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