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Roman Empire

Many of the graves found at this ancient Roman burial ground were protected by tile or terra-cotta coverings.

Cool Finds

Archaeologists Unearth Ancient Roman Cemetery Full of Jewelry, Coins and Clothing

Discovered north of Rome, the burial ground lies near what was once an upper-class villa

Forensic scientist Joe Mullins created this reconstruction using the victim's skull.

See the Face of Roman Britain’s Only Known Crucifixion Victim

A forensic artist has reimagined what the man may have looked like 2,000 years ago

An aerial view of the temple walls unearthed north of Rome

Cool Finds

Roman Imperial Cult Temple Unearthed Beneath a Parking Lot in Italy

The pagan temple sheds new light on the empire’s gradual embrace of Christianity

Fascinating finds unveiled in 2023 ranged from a 12-sided object that may have been used for sorcery to a lost Rembrandt portrait.

Cool Finds

117 Fascinating Finds Revealed in 2023

The year’s most exciting discoveries included a stolen Vincent van Gogh painting, a hidden medieval crypt and a gold-covered mummy

Researchers say the mural, uncovered near the Colosseum, is one of a kind.

Cool Finds

Archaeologists Uncover ‘Exceptional’ Ancient Mural Near Colosseum

The artwork—made from shells, tiles and other materials—demonstrated the wealth and power of its owner

Smithsonian's picks for the best history books of 2023 include King: A Life, The Sisterhood and The Wager.

The Best Books of 2023

The Ten Best History Books of 2023

Our favorite titles of the year resurrect forgotten histories and illuminate how the United States ended up where it is today

Police initially arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the felling.

Hadrian’s Wall Damaged by Sycamore Gap Tree Felling, Inspection Confirms

Cut down by a chainsaw, the beloved tree fell atop the 1,900-year-old Roman wall in September

Italian officials suspect they recovered between 30,000 and 50,000 bronze coins.

Cool Finds

Divers Discover Tens of Thousands of Ancient Coins Off the Coast of Italy

Their fourth-century find also hints at the possible presence of a shipwreck hidden nearby

This painted campaign inscription suggests the home where it was found belonged to one of the candidate's friends or supporters.

Cool Finds

Archaeologists Discover Electoral Campaign Inscription Inside Pompeii House

The text urged voters to elect a candidate named Aulus Rustius Verus to a position of political power

Images from Corona, a U.S. military program that ran from 1960 to 1972

Cool Finds

Declassified Cold War Satellite Photos Reveal Hundreds of Roman-Era Forts

Once thought to be defensive military bases, the forts may have supported peaceful trade and travel

Archaeologists excavating the Roman-era sarcophagus in Reims

Cool Finds

Archaeologists Discover ‘Exceptional’ Roman-Era Sarcophagus in France

The 40-year-old woman inside the tomb was buried with a ring, a comb and other items

A Herculaneum scroll being scanned at Institut de France by Brent Seales and his team

Cool Finds

This 21-Year-Old Used A.I. to Decipher Text From a Scroll That Hasn’t Been Read in 2,000 Years

The papyrus scroll is one of hundreds that were carbonized in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E.

The swords have long blades that were likely used by Roman soldiers or civilians while riding on horseback.

Cool Finds

Two 1,800-Year-Old Roman Cavalry Swords Unearthed in England

The long, slender weapons were likely carried by Roman soldiers on horseback

The beloved tree was one of the most photographed in the United Kingdom.

England’s Beloved Sycamore Gap Tree Has Been Chopped Down

Authorities arrested a 16-year-old boy on Thursday in connection with the felling

The four swords in their showcase during an announcement event on September 6

Cool Finds

Archaeologists Unearth Four 1,900-Year-Old Roman Swords in Israeli Cave

Jewish rebels may have hidden the weapons away from the Roman army in the second century C.E.

The silver denarius weighs 0.08 ounces (2.4 grams) and is one of the only coins of its kind found in Bremen.

Cool Finds

Boy Playing in Sandbox Finds 1,800-Year-Old Roman Coin

The rare silver denarius was minted during the rule of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 C.E.)

The building complex measures more than 5,000 square feet.

Cool Finds

Ruins of 2,000-Year-Old Roman Walls Unearthed in Swiss Alps

Archaeologists found the stone structures—along with a rich collection of artifacts—in a gravel quarry

Archaeologists unearthed the bedroom in a Roman villa near Pompeii.

Enslaved Individuals Slept in This Bedroom, Untouched Since Mount Vesuvius’ Eruption 2,000 Years Ago

The small room with two beds—but only one mattress—sheds new light on slavery in a Roman villa near Pompeii

In 25 B.C.E., Romans founded a colony called Augusta Emerita in what is now Mérida, Spain.

Cool Finds

Iron Window Bars Unearthed at a Roman Public Bath in Spain

The crisscrossing bars were likely part of the bath’s changing room, called the apodyterium

Miomir Korac, the lead archaeologist working on the newly unearthed ship

Cool Finds

Coal Miners Discover Ancient Roman Boat in Serbia

Measuring nearly 43 feet long, the ship’s remains were found near the bustling Roman city of Viminacium

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