What was really a vomitorium?
The word vomitorium has been often used to describe a room, adjacent to the dining room where a Roman dinner would take place, where participants would relieve themselves from a full stomach and carry on with the feast. However, no ancient source actually uses the word for this purpose.
Leprosy strain genotyped from medieval pilgrim at UK burial site
In a multidisciplinary study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, researchers investigated the strain of leprosy found in a leprosy hospital cemetery in Winchester, UK.
Remarkable discovery as Roman houses are identified under city centre park
Foundations of complete Roman town houses have been discovered under one of Chichester's city centre parks.
Palaeolithic art developed from public galleries towards more private exhibitions
A researcher at the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country proposes analysing characteristics such as the location and visibility of Palaeolithic works to try to deduce their purpose.
Exceptionally preserved Jurassic sea life found in new fossil site
A trove of exceptionally preserved Jurassic marine fossils discovered in Canada, rare for recording soft-bodied species that normally don’t fossilize, is expanding scientists’ view of the rich marine life of the period.
Ancient figures reveal trading routes of prehistoric African civilisation
The hundreds of figurines excavated so far suggest a high level of ritual activity at the Yikpabongo archaeological site of Northern Ghana.
3561 Artefacts seized in Operation Pandora
The results of a vast joint operation against illicit trafficking of cultural goods, involving 18 countries, were announced on Monday by EUROPOL.
Archaeologists uncover new clues to Maya collapse
While the findings may not solve the mystery of why exactly the Maya collapses occurred, they are an important step toward better understanding how they unfolded.
Mummy visualisation impresses in computer journal
Visitors to the British Museum can reveal the murder of the mummified Gebelein Man, 5,500 years ago.
More destruction of Palmyra monuments by IS
Islamic State militants have destroyed another Palmyra monument according to an announcement on Friday by the Syrian government and experts.
Discovery of Lost Dark Age Kingdom in Galloway
Archaeological research has just been published which reveals the location of a hitherto lost early medieval kingdom that was once pre-eminent in Scotland and Northern England.
Princess of Danube revisited
Archaeologists studying a Celtic tomb found in Heuneburg, containg the remains of an aristocratic woman and extremely rich grave goods have published their conclusions.
Large-scale medieval burial area found in Sudan
Archaeologists in Sudan have discovered a medieval area with cemeteries in Sudan excavating at least 123 individuals, some buried in unusual ways.
The Proparthenon
Today, Professor Manolis Korres (NTUA) will give a lecture on "The Proparthenon" at the Austrian Archaeological Institute.
Medieval horse skull found at the Colosseum
Archaeologists cleaning the exterior of the Colosseum in Italy last week have discovered a medieval horse skull.
The valuable information of garbage
The research project is called “The Pompeii Artifact Life History Project” and it is headed by Theodore Peña of the University of California, Berkeley.
Polish researcher investigates the health of children in ancient Egypt
Anaemia, chronic sinusitis, tooth decay are among the most commonly recognized diseases in children whose burials a Polish bioarchaeologist investigated in the Egyptian necropolis.
Greek Tragedy on the Small Screen
Iphigenia in Aulis, Agamemnon and Electra will be shown in January and February.
Major Viking Age manor discovered at Birka, Sweden
The survey revealed a major Viking period hall on the site, with a length of around 40 meters.
Fossils find reveal unseen ‘footprint’ maker
Fossils found in Morocco from the long-extinct group of sea creatures called trilobites, including rarely seen soft-body parts, may be previously unseen animals that left distinctive fossil ‘footprints’ around the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.
Moldavian “long house” discovered near Chisinau
More than 20 meters could be the length of the relics of a wooden 7,000-year-old house, discovered by an international team of researchers near the city of Balti, about 100 km from Chisinau.
Egyptian perfume box missing fragments have been found
Pieces of a fragmented perfume box from ancient Egypt kept at a Scottish museum have been discovered and reunited with the rest of the remains.
Special feature prevented Roman chariots from crashing
A 2,000-year-old toy chariot has allowed researchers to discover what kept ancient Roman chariots from crashing.
Our hominid ancestors made and used tools
Neil Norman and Bruce Larson stumbled upon tools likely near where they were dropped by their makers as long as two and a half million years ago.