In May of 2010, archeology headlines have included the discovery of an ancient method of preserving food that you may not have thought existed thousands of years ago. In this article, you will also learn more about the excavation of an ancient site linked to Cleopatra and revamping the Roman Collesium.
The Discovery of 2000-Year Icebox
The Win Dynasty thrived from 221 to 207 BC and involved the residents of northwest China. Archeologists have learned that the ancient Chinese may have used an ice cellar or a cool place to store their food. If this is true, then more than 2,000 years ago, the emperor and court officials may have had this type of storage established in their homes.
There is a claim in China that archeologists have uncovered an ‘icebox’ that dates back 2,000 years , discovered in the residence of an emperor that lived in the northwest Shaanxi Province. The cylindrical find measured 1.1 meters in diameter and was .33 meters tall. Inside, several clay rings were encountered. The loops were placed together to form a shaft that was about 1.6 meters tall. The shaft led to a river valley, but researchers have ruled out that it was connected to a well because the underground water level was much deeper than just three meters.
Researchers believe that the shaft was an ice cellar that the ancient Chinese called a ‘ling yin’ , a cool place to store food during the summer season. A reference to the ice cellars was mentioned in “Book of Songs”, a collection of poetry that comes from the Western Chou Dynasty (11th century -771 BC) to the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 475 BC). The ‘ling yin’ was said to keep food fresh for three days during times of hot weather.
Restoring the Roman Collosseum
The Roman Collosseum is getting a makeover and the arena will soon reopen along with an extensive facelift to the underground area. However, the project is in need of more sponsors to make sure the construction will last for the long run.
The technical director of the archaeology section in Italy’s culture ministry announced that the arena will be reopened, along with the attic, the gallery located between the second and third floors, as well as the hypogeum (underground). However, it was also stated that the restoration, maintenance, surveillance, and the creation of a museum requires more funds to become a reality.
The mayor of Rome supports a plan that will cost 23-million-euro (or 28 million dollars) that would include cleaning the facade damaged by pollution. An estimated 2,000 cars pass by the monument each hour and it has taken its toll.
The Ruins of Cleopatra’s Palace
Divers have returned to the waters off the coast of Alexandria in order to further explore the ruins of Cleopatra’s palace. The site has been dubbed the Royal Quarters and is comprised of ports, temples, palaces, and military outposts that have sunk into the sea when earthquakes occurred during the 4th and 8th centuries. The ruins are basically the same as they were hundreds of years ago , only located under the water.
The site is of importance because it contains one of the richest underwater archeological treasure troves in the world. Retrieving the gorgeous artifacts that date back to ancient Egyptian times will provide gems for all the world to admire.