Free Republic

The Bolton News reports that an exceedingly rare, once decrepit ancient Roman sun hat has recently been brought back to life thanks to the work of skilled conservators and is set to go on public display for the first time at England's Bolton Museum. The woolen cap is only one of three similar Roman headpieces known to still survive. It dates to around a.d. 200 and was likely made for a member of the Roman military who was stationed in Egypt following Rome's conquest of the territory in the first century b.c. Although it resembles other contemporary Roman hats in...

Cadbury has temporarily pulled its "real treasure hunt" ad campaign after archaeologists and the government accused it of advocating looting. The Treasure Island ads encouraged children to "grab your metal detector and go hunting for Roman riches", but failed to warn that digging without permission is illegal. It suggested a number of sites across the UK and Ireland where "treasure's fair game". The confectioner took the online ad site down on Monday after being inundated with messages from archaeologists who described the campaign as "irresponsible" - a view endorsed by the government. The arts minister, Michael Ellis, said the ad...