Villa discovered in district frequented by Marcus Aurelius- March 19, 2007 The discovery of sections a Roman villa at Castel di Guido on the Via Aurelia, roughly 10 km outside Romes ring road has now been officially confirmed. The villa, which dates back to the second or third century AD, is part of a district called Lorium (la Bottaccia on a modern map), historically known as the first stop on the consular Via Aurelia, and where emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) lived for a period. So far, walls delimiting the thermal area of the villa have been uncovered, while...http://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/2007_03_01_romanarch_archive.html#1947169356143190966 Hippodrome starting gate discovered at Colchester- March 19, 2007 THE final piece in the archaeological jigsaw that is Colchester's Roman Circus has been found by excavators, the EADT can reveal.The location of the 12 gates that released the competitors into frenetic and often violent chariot races was discovered near the sergeants' mess building in the former Colchester Garrison at Abbey Field.These would have operated in the same way as greyhound traps, unleashing the charioteers on to the quarter-mile long opening stretch of the track.With four horses at...http://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/2007_03_01_romanarch_archive.html#6746664132641265739 Masada fresco restoration project completed- March 19, 2007 "The frescoes on the Northern Massada Palace were discovered during extensive archaeological excavations headed by Prof. Ygael Yadin in the sixties. It was a very exciting find at the time, because these frescoes were cutting edge in Roman design, same as in Rome itself or in Pompeii."Ze'ev Margalit, an architect for the Israel Nature and National Parks Protections Authority, observed, "For 40 years, the frescoes had been preserved through then-modern techniques, but they had deteriorated...http://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/2007_03_01_romanarch_archive.html#246945526220809853 Leeds building "Scent of Rome" garden- March 19, 2007 A CORNER of Ancient Rome is being lovingly recreated in Leeds as the centrepiece of a special garden. Expert stonemasons are busy chipping away at Leeds City Council's nurseries at Red Hall to lay the foundations for the city's Roman-themed entry to this year's Chelsea Flower Show.The council's Scent of a Roman entry draws its inspiration from archaeological and historical evidence that Leeds was home to a Roman settlement.Locally-sourced materials have been used to reconstruct Roman splendour.http://uoregon.edu/~mharrsch/2007_03_01_romanarch_archive.html#4481330436632561938 |