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Archaeologists discovered a Roman necropolis near Naples in place of the ancient settlement Litrane.
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An inscription in the marble of a tomb showed that this was the last place to rest a gladiator.
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Experts hope to continue to explore the site to learn more about its history.
On the spot not far from an ancient forum and amphitheater once used to host Roman gladiators, archaeologists have discovered an extensive necropolis that contains a tomb full of gladiator history.
Situated just beyond modern Naples, archaeologists have begun to excavate 1 600 square feet of necropolis. As it dug the site – which was part of the ancient city of Litum – archaeologists discovered a funeral associated with a gladiator thanks to a funeral inscription embedded in the marble, according to a translated statement by the chief of archeology, the fine arts and the landscape for the Naples Metropolitan Zone.
The marble inscription, which was among several who were found on the spot, mentioned the gladiator and refers to the memory of the role that the famous fighters play in Roman society, which can suggest that the necropolis (and the ancient settlement as a whole) contains the remains of a number of gladiators. Although the last place to break this particular fighter was the main peak of the discovery, there is a lot more history that excavations are still working to discover.
Simona Formola, the archaeologist, who runs the excavations, said the work is just starting at the vast object and has already potentially rewrites the history of the area. Excavations crews opened two funeral enclosures, in which most of the original designs remained well preserved even after centuries. Some sections included white plaster decorations, others had red details, and there was a quadrangular mausoleum with gray tuff blocks extending up to 10 feet. This section included plastered niches inside the tombs, which housed cinere urns, which implied prolonged use of the site.
In general, the crews have discovered approximately 20 tombs so far, which have probably been in use since the first century BC until the third century AD. (The Middle Imperial Age). The detection of coins, oil lamps and small vases has helped archaeologists meet exactly the site. The team identified a mixture of funeral styles – some sections of the tombs were covered with roof tiles and others hosted in carefully crafted boxes.
The site has a deep well that experts believe has been used for ceremonies or rituals as part of the funeral traditions.
“The territory of giugliano is experiencing a particularly Fruitful Moment Form the Point of View of Archaeological Research,” Marian Nuzzo, Aeth ene ene The Discovery of Tomb of Cerberus and Now with This necropolis that, thanks also to the excellent State of Conservation of the Wall Structures and Burials, Adds an Important Piece To Our Knowledge Colony and is a unique opportunity to depend on the study of ancient civilization and the historical and cultural context of time.
Archaeologists will continue to work in the area, hoping to reveal more history from the site. This includes the organization of the Roman colony that surrounds the necropolis, the story of which, Nuto said, is little known. Since during this time, necropolis sites usually arranged the sides of the key roads, the team hopes to offer new hypotheses regarding the layout of the ancient road through Domitian (which connects southern Italy with Rome) and the surrounding regions.
“It will be possible to achieve important results in the field of knowledge of the territory of a crucial importance, form a historical and archeological point of view,” Nuto said.
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