ROME, Nov 24 (Reuters) – A year-long research of the drainage system below the Colosseum has unearthed fragments of the bones of bears and massive cats that have been most likely used to combat or as prey in searching video games within the historic Roman area, archaeologists stated on Thursday.
Different discoveries embrace greater than 50 bronze cash from the late Roman interval in addition to a silver coin from round 170-171 AD to commemorate 10 years of rule of the emperor Marcus Aurelius, they added in an announcement.
Seeds from fruits similar to figs, grapes and melons in addition to traces of olives and nuts — thought to point what spectators snacked on throughout exhibits — have been additionally recovered from the two,000-year-old stone amphitheatre.
The research, which started in January, concerned the clearance of round 70 metres of drains and sewers below the Colosseum and is seen as shedding gentle on its later years earlier than it fell into disuse round 523 AD.
Alfonsina Russo, Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, stated the discoveries “deepen our understanding of the expertise and habits of those that got here to this place throughout the lengthy days devoted to the performances”.
Writing by Keith Weir
Enhancing by Alvise Armellini and Gareth Jones
: .
