Saturday, October 18, 2008

Ecce!

(That means "Behold!" in Latin.)

Archeological finds never cease to amaze me. The location of several recent finds, Rome, certainly isn't unexpected given it was the seat of one of civilization's greatest empires.

Under a modern rugby stadium, workers recently discovered an ancient cemetery that is replete with a huge maze of tombs that mirror the houses and streets of a real city. Apparently medieval pottery shards in the necropolis indicate that the cemetery may have been inhabited by the living during the Dark Ages.

And in a different location near the city, archeologists excavated a tomb of a Roman nobleman (and close aide to an emperor) from the second century A.D. The general's identity was deciphered because the decorations and inscriptions in the tomb had fortunately been preserved. A museum next to the mausoleum is planned.

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