Archeology News of Early December 2009

Found off the coast of Libya, archeologists are pleased to announce the discovery of the submerged ruins of a Roman city dating back to the 2nd century AD. It is the belief that the city fell victim to an earthquake and tsunami known to have struck the region in 365 AD. In this article, you will also encounter what looks to be evidence that the Vikings had their own system of recycling.

Discovery of Ancient Roman City

A group of Italian archaeologists hailing from Sicily and the University Suor Orsola Benincasa of Naples have uncovered the remains of an ancient Roman city located off the coast of Libya. The find became a successful discovery for the ArCoLibia archaeology project to which the archeologists and experts are taking part in. As the archaeologists searched the western side of Libya’s Gulf of Bumbah for shipwrecks and the remains of ancient ports, they came across a collection of walls, streets, and the remains of buildings and ancient tombs located on the Cape of Ras Eteen.

After carefully inspecting their discovery, they learned that the find stretched over land measuring more than a hectare. In the past, the city may have thrived as a the manufacture of a rather expensive imperial dye, comprised of a purple pigment that was used in the coloring of clothing belonging to the Roman elite.

Vikings Recycled?

With a history that traces back to 1066, historians believe they have come across the first metal recycling center in York , a city located in England. Uncovered near the site of the Battle of Fulford Gate, proof of metalworking was evident with such artifacts including iron arrowheads and ax heads. It is the theory that the Norsemen were ‘recycling’ their weapons after the Battle of Fulford Gate when they were needed to participate in the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

It’s been a long ten years, but the project centered on putting together the facts regarding the Battle of Fulford has produced more than 1,000 pieces of iron. Amongst the artifacts, signs of reprocessing weapons used in battle became clearer and clearer. The lead researcher, historian Chas Jones stated that several ‘smithing hearth bottoms’ , the remains of the molten metal that emerges during the reprocessing of the weaponry ironwork were found during their exploration of the site.

All finds have been transported to Kings Manor, where they will undergo X-ray fluorescence examination at the University of York’s Department of Archaeology. This process allows researchers to identify the exact composition of metal that separates it from other materials, such as modern iron alloys. It is then that the theory of weapon recycling is further backed.  

Experts from Scandinavia believe the winners of the Battle of Fulford left behind the iron artifacts, before the Norse were forced to abandon their materials before they were reprocessed into new weapons. The only reason such a large amount of material was left in one place is that the warriors were called away to another battle (the Battle Of Stamford Bridge) and never returned. Look for a detailed report on the results of the project to surface in February.