The plaster cast figures from Pompeii are pretty famous. The casts are made by pouring plaster into hollows left in the ash by an item that has decomposed (like bodies, wood, etc.). The resulting figures capture the expressions and last moments of the people who were killed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79CE. A snippet of a documentary shows the mice from Pompeii captured using the same plaster technique developed by Fiorelli:...
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Archaeology stories from Digg
December 23rd edition “2000 year old Bronze Horse Head Found In Germany” Frankfurt Scientists say a Roman horse head made from bronze and plated in gold has been discovered at an archaeological site in Germany. “Domestic Horse Ridden Further Back in Time” People were riding horses much earlier than previously thought, new archaeological finds suggest. “Ancient seed sprouts plant from the past – Hurriyet Daily News” A 4,000-year-old lentil seed unearthed in an...
Continue reading...Shrine to Jupiter found at Vindolanda
Found a link to the article below on Archaeological News. Amazing find! I’d love to be able to see it. To my friend on the right side of the pond — if you get to visit the site, send me a picture? hexham-courant.co.uk — ONE of the most important artefacts ever unearthed at the Vindolanda Roman site near Bardon Mill could also be the heaviest. The 1.5 tonne altar depicts Jupiter riding a...
Continue reading...Archaeo: Roman Column Painted in Light
Ancient Greek and Roman sculptures were not always plain white marble. And now Italian researchers are giving the Trajan Column a fresh coat of paint – with light. Rossella Lorenzi reports. read more | digg story Related Images:
Continue reading...Hairstyles in Ancient Greece and Rome
The History Blog has a good brief peice on the history of Greek and Roman hairstyles. Some good illustrations, too. It never ceases to amaze me that some things in the ancient world are well documented, and others are not. It’s possible to define possible date ranges for Greek and Roman statues based upon depicted clothing and hair styles. Related Images:
Continue reading...Archaeological Dig Uncovers Roman Mystery
Even though this find is later than my own period of interest (100 BCE to 400 CE), there are some interesting elements described. University of British Columbia archaeologists have dug up a mystery worthy of Indiana Jones, one that includes a tomb, skeletons and burial rites with both Christian and pagan elements. read more | digg story Related Images:
Continue reading...Archaeologists Unveil Majestic Roman Ruins That Rival Riches
Officials in Ostia Antica hope that the decade-long restoration of four dwellings will focus new attention on this once-bustling port west of Rome. read more | digg story Related Images:
Continue reading...Full Sized Roman Siege Ballista for Sale on eBay!
From the builders of this unique offering: As timber engineers, we do get asked to build a lot of unusual things – things which other framing companies couldn’t even attempt. This was, perhaps, one of the more unusual. The ballista was successfully built and managed to fire a very heavy stone ball some 127 yards. (Remember, these things used to successfully lay siege to entire cities.) read more | digg story Also a...
Continue reading...Recent Books on Equine Archaeology/History
I’ve been looking for current publications on equine archaeology and history. You would be surprised what is out there! I found four books that covered proceedings from the International Council for Archaeozoology meeting in Durham, UK, 2002. It sounds like it would have been an awesome conference. Equids in time and space, edited by Marjan Mashkour (2006). From the description: “There are methodological as well as historical chapters dealing with problems ranging from...
Continue reading...Additional Roman Saddle Info
I emailed Deepeeka about their saddle. They are incredibly cheap (for a saddle, at least) — under $200 US. However, you have to order at least two. So very tempted! My coauthor suggested doing more research and sent me some good links to consider. I could end up with an expensive display piece. (Although I suppose that is what my side saddle is — it doesn’t fit my mare but it sure is...
Continue reading...Roman Cavalry Bibliography
I was going through some of my old emails and found a bibliography I had compiled for a friend on the Roman Cavalry. I attended a Roman re-enactment in October 2004 in Nashville. A Deepeeka representative had a reconstructed Roman cavalry saddle (Deepeeka item code AH6405). This really peeked my interest. Picture I took at the Roman re-enactment of the Deepeeka saddle (see the Photography section for additional pictures): One of the vendors...
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