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According to a statement released by the University of York, researchers have identified rare traces of dyed purple textiles in two Roman infant burials. Known as Tyrian purple, the extremely costly colorant was manufactured by crushing thousands of murex marine sea snails and was typically reserved for use by emperors, royalty, and members of the aristocracy. However, experts were able to detect its presence on garments wrapped around two small children who died and were buried around 1,700 years ago. Their remains are held in the collections of the York Museums Trust. The dye was identifiable through chemical analysis because...

Researchers led by Elena Klenina and Andrzej B. Biernacki of Adam Mickiewicz University and their colleagues identified intestinal parasites in residues taken from four chamber pots recovered from two archaeological sites in the Roman province of Moesia Inferior, which is located in what is now Bulgaria, according to a La Brújula Verde report. Three of the pots in the study were found in a villa located near the Legio I Italica army camp, where high-ranking officials likely stayed when they visited the region. Cryptosporidium, a protozoan that can cause severe diarrhea, was one of the parasites detected in the second-century...

During the 4th-century, a remarkable artifact was produced by Roman artisans that exhibits optical qualities so unique they have baffled scholars for centuries. Known as the Lycurgus Cup, it is one of the most unusual examples of glassworking ever produced by the Roman Empire, as it is made from dichroic glass—a material that appears to exhibit an entirely different coloration when light passes through it—causing it to look green when illuminated from the front but appearing a striking amber-red when illuminated from behind. The artifact’s unique name refers to its depiction of King Lycurgus, who, according to mythology, attempted to...

Overshadowed by the rise of the Roman Empire, the Etruscan civilization -- and their exquisite art, progressive society, and advanced engineering -- was largely forgotten by history. This film reclaims their story, revealing how Etruscan innovations and customs were the foundation upon which the entire Roman world was built, and how their legacy continues today. The Etruscans, the ancient world's greatest untold story | 11:12 Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco | 36.1K subscribers | 58,106 views | May 1, 2026

In a coordinated effort spanning multiple agencies and borders, U.S. authorities have repatriated 26 ancient artifacts to Greece, marking another step in the ongoing fight against the illicit trade in cultural heritage. The operation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the FBI, and the State Department. The items were recovered following months of investigation, underscoring the growing international cooperation aimed at protecting and restoring looted antiquities to their countries of origin. “These invaluable objects, illegally removed from their homeland, have now...

According to a statement released by the University of South Florida, a mass grave containing the remains of victims of the Plague of Justinian (A.D. 541–750) has been identified at the site of Jerash in northern Jordan by a team of researchers led by Rays H.Y. Jiang of the University of South Florida. Hundreds of people were buried within several days in this mass grave dug in the city's hippodrome. "By linking biological evidence from the bodies to the archaeological setting, we can see how disease affected real people within their social and environmental context," Jiang said. Examination of the...

Live Science reports that Joachim Burger of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and his colleagues examined more than 250 sets of human remains of people who lived in what is now southern Germany, on what was the frontier of the Roman Empire, between A.D. 400 and 700. The researchers analyzed DNA samples from the bones, performed strontium isotope analysis to look for chemical signatures in the bones, and compared the results of the tests with 2,500 ancient and 379 modern genomes. The study suggests that many people engaged in monogamy, and nearly one-quarter of the children lost at least one parent...

A Roman ship that sank about 2,200 years ago off the Adriatic coast... known as Ilovik–Paržine 1, was found in 2016 near the Croatian island of Ilovik. Archaeologists have examined the hull and cargo before, but recent work has focused on the material used to seal the ship's exterior -- substances meant to keep water out and protect the wood from damage...Most of the coating was made from pine-based pitch, produced by heating resin from conifer trees. In one case, the material included beeswax mixed with pitch. This combination would have made the coating more workable and slightly more flexible...

Archaeologists from the University of Warsaw have discovered a concentration of shipwrecks near the ancient port of Ptolemais in northern Libya... one of the five cities that formed the Pentapolis of Cyrenaica, established by the Ptolemaic dynasty between the late 4th and 3rd centuries BC. The city emerged as a major hub for maritime trade until the Arab conquest in the 7th century AD.Covering a stretch of over 100 metres, the large concentration of submerged material suggests that multiple shipwrecks accumulated over time as a navigational danger for ships approaching the harbour.After a 13-year hiatus due to the Libyan civil...

Archeologists in Italy's Pompeii have for the first time used artificial intelligence to reconstruct the appearance of one of the victims of the volcanic eruption that destroyed the ancient Roman city nearly 2,000 years ago. Archaeologists use AI to generate image of Pompeii victim | 0:59 Reuters | 4.18M subscribers | 12,415 views | April 27, 2026

Between the 10th and 13th centuries, the monks at the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, Greece, sporadically broke down a 6th century manuscript and reused its pages as binding material and flyleaves for other texts. In time, Codex H effectively disappeared. These new volumes were spread across Europe and it was only through the enterprise of a sharp-eyed 18th century French monk that researchers today have been able to locate the lost folios among libraries in Italy, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, and France. All the same, while the general content of Codex H, which contains a copy of the Letters...

Well into Scotland this week and looking at Roman occupation, including one of the last physical signs of it, the truly remarkable Eagle Rock near Cramond. Now it normally raises some controversy in the comments whenever we acknowledge Roman control north of the wall, so we try to take a balanced view in this film: yes, parts of Scotland did fall for some periods - it's bonkers to deny that - but this site investigation shows how transitory it was. As well as the fantastic Eagle Rock, we explore the exposed remains of the Roman fort in Cramond - a...

The discovery of the lost Roman city of Briga in the forests of Normandy is a masterclass in persistence. For decades, experts doubted a significant city could exist in such a remote location, dismissing early finds as exaggerated. This video explores how archaeologists unearthed a massive 160-acre urban center, including a monumental sanctuary, a 5,000-seat theater, and a luxury basilica -- all hidden beneath the soil. Briga: The Most Significant Archaeological Discovery Of The 21st Century | 52:19 Unearthed History - Archaeology Documentaries | 282K subscribers | 17,885 views | April 26, 2026

The excavation of the Villa della Pisanella in Boscoreale has yielded one of the most extraordinary archaeological finds of the Roman era: the world's only known intact Roman boiler, complete with all its pipes, valves, and accessories. This unique artifact provides a fascinating insight into the technological sophistication of the ancient Romans, highlighting their advanced engineering skills and meticulous craftsmanship...The Villa della Pisanella first came to light in November 1868, when Modestino Pulzella, while laying the foundations for a new wall, discovered remnants of ancient structures. Further exploration revealed mosaics, but the work was soon halted by a neighboring landowner,...

According to an Ahram Online report, a Roman-era tomb has been discovered in Upper Egypt at the site of Al-Bahnasa -- the ancient city of Oxyrhynchus -- by a team of Egyptian and Spanish researchers including Maite Mascort and Esther Pons of the University of Barcelona. Several decorated, linen-wrapped mummies were found in the tomb in addition to wooden coffins. Three golden tongues, one copper tongue, and gold leaf were also uncovered alongside some of the mummified bodies. A papyrus buried with one of the individuals contains a passage from book 2 of Homer’s Iliad known as the Catalogue of...

Freepers I am turning to you all for assistance in preparing a class lecture on the importance of Mahan's "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History". Specifically I was hoping one of you well read Freepers can direct me to a good, excerpt or summary of Mahan's "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History". Something I can hand out in class. I have read his many articles but none of them seem to cover the major points of his theories succinctly. So I am wondering now if there is a good excerpt of his major work that you all could...

The excavation of the Via Alessandrina, along the Via dei Fori Imperiali, continues. We can look together at some stunning results in April 2026 as the dig has arrived at the pavement level of the Forum of Augustus. It's an exciting moment, and Darius walks you through the newly revealed monuments. Excavating the Forum of Augustus: Under Via Alessandrina | 8:43 Darius Arya Digs | 37.5K subscribers | 2,892 views | April 22, 2026

A remarkable archaeological discovery at the ancient city of Hippos is reshaping what historians know about early Christian rituals, revealing a rare and complex picture of Byzantine-era worship practices.Recent excavations at the Hippos cathedral, a prominent Byzantine religious complex overlooking the Sea of Galilee, have uncovered an extraordinary structure known as a southern photisterion—a baptismal hall—alongside a collection of unique liturgical objects. The findings, published in Palestine Exploration Quarterly, provide fresh insight into how early Christian communities practiced baptism and honored sacred traditions.A Rare Dual Baptistery System One of the most striking revelations is that the Hippo Cathedral contained two...

The Slovak Spectator reports that a second Roman aqueduct was discovered in the Rusovce section of southern Bratislava during renovations at the Rusovce Chateau. A Roman camp housing some 1,000 soldiers stood on the site from the second century to the fourth century A.D. "We can now speak of a higher standard of living for the Romans who lived in the camp in the second century," said Erik Hrnčiarik of Trnava University. "Until now, we believed they lived in much simpler conditions. The second aqueduct proves that there were permanent buildings made of stone and brick around the camp," he...

A new Roman adventure begins! Join Miss Detectorist UK as coins fall from the earth along an ancient Roman road—now a quiet Wiltshire farm field. What starts as a routine dig turns into an extraordinary metal detecting day: a haul of 25 Roman coins and two incredible artefacts, including a beautiful bronze snake ring that hasn’t seen the light of day for nearly 2,000 years. Step into the past with Miss Detectorist and her detecting buddy as they trace the footsteps of Roman Britain, uncovering stories buried beneath the soil. From the first signal to the last astonishing find, this...