Posted on 01/28/2023 9:49:20 AM PST by SunkenCiv
A number of decapitated skeletons have been uncovered by archaeologists at a Roman burial site.
The discovery, which included evidence of Roman and Iron Age settlements, was made at Wintringham near St Neots, Cambridgeshire.
Dating from 2,500 years ago, the site will feature in the latest series of BBC Two's Digging for Britain...
The work comes ahead of a development of about 2,800 homes in the village.
Archaeologists uncovered an Iron Age settlement composed of 40 roundhouses and a network of trackways and enclosures related to farming activities.
The Oxford Archaeology team also discovered Roman coins, brooches, a large lead lid or platter, and numerous pottery vessels.
A Roman kiln and a large number of quern and millstones, used to grind grains, were also found.
Experts said the decapitated skeletons dated back to the third century AD, with 11 out of the 17 burials having their heads positioned by the feet.
The individuals were interred carefully, often buried with pottery and in one case, a pottery vessel was found in place of the head, archaeologists said...
Specialists will now start analysing the skeletons with the hope of providing more details about the burial rites that were in use in the area.
The discovery will feature on episode three of Digging for Britain on BBC Two at 21:00 GMT on Sunday or on the iPlayer.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
“I lost my head in Wintringham, and all I got was this lousy toga.”
I once saw a special exhibition at the GR Ford Museum of the various presidential china place settings. Quite a number are not known to have survived. The Lincolns' has only one setting that had survived. Ceramic utensils break, even if they last years or decades or more, and it is indeed rare to find intact ancient ceramic items. The Romans used a lot of ready-to-go architectural elements that were tile, such as the floor shims for the hypercausts, flooring, roofing, and the hollow vertical elements used for the walls of the calderiums in the baths of posh private homes. Those didn't experience as much wear and tear in use, and probably a lot of that wound up being a puzzling addition to later construction by other cultural groups.
Nero burning down Rome and then blaming the Christians is a myth?
Nero didn't burn down Rome, he was off in one of his country estates, was told about the fire, and rushed to the city to organize the firefighting, which went on for a week or more. That's from Tacitus, who is the only ancient original source for the claim that Nero blamed Christians for the fire. So, yeah, it's a myth.
Better!
:^)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.