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Tag: Ancient Roman

  • Massive ancient Roman structure — a false tomb — unexpectedly found in Germany

    Construction work in Germany unexpectedly revealed a large ancient Roman structure used as a false tomb, archaeologists said and photos show.

    Construction work in Germany unexpectedly revealed a large ancient Roman structure used as a false tomb, archaeologists said and photos show.

    Photo from Archäologiebüro Dr. Woidich GmbH

    Digging into the dry soil of a field in southern Germany, archaeologists hit some rocks and painstakingly unearthed a massive stone structure. They’d expected to find something at this site — but what reemerged left them stunned.

    A team of archaeologists began excavations near Wolkertshofen in fall 2024 ahead of the construction of a pond for collecting stormwater runoff. Previous work around the site had revealed burials and settlement traces from the Bronze Age to the early Middle Ages, the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation said in an Oct. 17 news release.

    During the recent work, archaeologists initially found some broken ceramics. But as they continued digging, they unexpectedly uncovered an ancient Roman structure.

    An aerial view of the ancient Roman false tomb found near Wolkertshofen.
    An aerial view of the ancient Roman false tomb found near Wolkertshofen. Photo from Archäologiebüro Dr. Woidich GmbH

    The circular stone ruins stretched about 40 feet across and matched the general design of a Roman burial mound, or tumulus, archaeologists said. But there was nothing inside the mound, no bones or artifacts.

    Instead, excavations uncovered a small square extension at one end of the burial mound, likely the platform for a sculpture or commemorative slab, officials said.

    Archaeologists concluded the structure was actually a false tomb, or a cenotaph, a type of burial monument erected to honor a deceased person buried elsewhere.

    Officials described this type of find as particularly remarkable, rare and highly unusual for the area, which was controlled by the ancient Romans until about 1,600 years ago and part of a Roman province known as Raetia. The Wolkertshofen tomb stood out for its size, age and purpose.

    A close-up photo shows the square stone platform in front of the ancient Roman false tomb.
    A close-up photo shows the square stone platform in front of the ancient Roman false tomb. Photo from Archäologiebüro Dr. Woidich GmbH

    The ancient Roman false tomb originally sat right next to a main road and near an elite country estate, archaeologists said.

    Mathias Pfeil, a conservator with the department, said they didn’t expect to find a funeral monument this large or old in Wolkertshofen. He described the false tomb as originally being widely visible to passersby and serving as both a memorial to the deceased and an indicator of social status.

    Officials said they hope the ancient tomb in Wolkertshofen gives more insights into the region’s Roman history but did not specify any future research related to the site.

    Wolkertshofen is a town in southern Germany and a roughly 60-mile drive north from Munich.

    Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation.

    Aspen Pflughoeft

    McClatchy DC

    Aspen Pflughoeft covers real-time news for McClatchy. She is a graduate of Minerva University where she studied communications, history, and international politics. Previously, she reported for Deseret News.

    Aspen Pflughoeft

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  • WTF Fun Fact 13653 – Vomitoriums

    WTF Fun Fact 13653 – Vomitoriums

    The ancient vomitoriums apparently had nothing to do with vomiting at all!

    The “vomitorium” has long been associated with images of ancient Romans indulging in excessive feasting only to purge themselves to eat more. However, this widespread belief is a historical misconception. The real meaning of vomitorium in Roman culture was quite different and far less grotesque.

    Vomitorium are Exits

    In reality, a vomitorium was an architectural feature in ancient Roman amphitheaters and stadiums. The word, derived from the Latin vomitus, which means to spew forth, referred to the large passageways that allowed crowds to exit rapidly into the streets.

    These passageways were efficient in dispersing large groups of people from the venues, similar to how food is expelled from the stomach.

    The false notion of the vomitorium as a place for purging after excessive eating likely stemmed from a misunderstanding of the Latin language.

    It was an easy jump from “vomitorium,” a term describing the spewing of crowds, to a place for vomiting. The misinterpretation was possibly fueled by modern literature and an already existing stereotype of ancient Romans as excessively indulgent.

    Literary Exaggerations

    Classical texts that described Roman feasts and excesses played a role in cementing this myth. Works like Seneca’s Letters and the satirical ‘Satyricon’ by Petronius depicted scenes of lavish Roman feasts and debauchery. These descriptions, often satirical and exaggerated, influenced modern interpretations and led to the vomitorium myth.

    Roman feasts, especially among the upper class, were indeed grand. They involved elaborate dishes and communal eating. Entertainment was common, with dancers and musicians adding to the festivities. Women and men dined together, which was a departure from the Greek tradition.

    The feasts could include extravagant presentations, but there is no historical evidence to suggest that these gatherings included rooms specifically designated for purging.

    Contrary to the image of constant overindulgence, the diets of both wealthy and poorer Romans were predominantly grain-based. The wealthy had more access to wheat and meats, while the poorer sections of society consumed more millet.

    This dietary pattern indicates that while the rich could afford more lavish meals, their eating habits were not as extreme as the myth of the vomitorium would suggest.

    Debunking the Myth of Vomitoriums

    The vomitorium is a great example of how misconceptions can arise from misinterpretations and satirical representations. It wasn’t a space for bingeing and purging but rather an architectural innovation for crowd management.

    — WTF fun facts

    Source: “Purging the Myth of the Vomitorium” — Scientific American

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