News Main
Animals
Archaeology
Dinosaurs
Earth
History
Human Animal
Space
Tech

Ancient Roman Oil Lamp 'Factory Town' Found

Rossella Lorenzi, Discovery News

Photos

The ancient dumping contained other important objects, such as a fine terracotta statuette depicting Hercules as he captures the Erymanthian Boar, and 14 lead bullets which were probably used in the Battle of Mutina in 43 B.C. During that battle, Decimus Brutus, one of Julius Caesar's assassins, defeated the besieging Mark Antony with the help of Octavian, the future Roman Emperor Augustus.

"This is an extraordinary discovery, since it provides unique archaeological evidence which confirms historical accounts," Luigi Malnati, superintendent of archaeological heritage in Emilia Romagna, told Discovery News.

The oil lamps and the other newly discovered objects will be displayed in a permanent show at the Archaeological and Ethnological Museum in Modena at the end of the month.

Related Links:

Rossella Lorenzi's blog: Archaeorama

The Hash Marijuana and Hemp Museum

How Stuff Works: Archaeology