Ancient rome

Skeletons Found In Ancient Cemetery Still Have Shackles On Their Necks

Archaeologists working in southwest France have discovered hundreds of Gallo-Roman graves dating to the second half of the 2nd century AD, with some of the skeletons featuring shackles still strapped around their necks and ankles. The site, which may have been part of an important Gallo-Roman necropolis, is situated near the amphitheatre of Saintes. The…

io9 George Dvorsky Dec 4

Just How Did The Ancient Greeks And Romans Cut Marble?

Watching marble being extracted from a modern quarry is an impressive sight, one that requires a tricky combination of skill, coordination, and advanced machinery to achieve. But, without the aid of bulldozers and power tools, how did the ancient miners manage it? The question popped up again and again, after observing the oddly-mesmerizing process by…

io9 Ria Misra Oct 23

People Have Suffered From Gluten Intolerance For At Least 2,000 Years

Analysis of the skeletal remains of an affluent young woman who lived in Tuscany some 2,000 years ago shows that celiac disease has existed since ancient times — as has the practice of avoiding certain foods. The woman’s remains were found in an ancient tomb at the Cosa archaeological site on the Tuscan coast in…

io9 George Dvorsky May 1

No, Rome’s Collapse Wasn’t Caused By Lead Poisoning

Rome was the first city on the planet to have an extensive and efficient municipal water system, thanks to the empire’s ambitious aqueduct system that’s still found throughout Europe. But that infrastructure was also pumping ancient Romans with lead—up to 100 times the amount of lead found in local spring water. A new study reported…

Tech News Alissa Walker Apr 24

Looter caught trying to sell a hoard of Roman gold and silver

An amateur archaeologist — or more accurately, an opportunistic ass-wipe with a metal detector — recently uncovered a treasure trove of gold and silver artifacts in Germany. But he was promptly caught after trying to sell the rare items on the black market. The items, which date to the early part of the fifth century…

io9 George Dvorsky Feb 20

Ancient Roman funeral masks made from wax were freakishly lifelike

Ancient Roman funeral processions were led by professional mourners who wore masks of the recently deceased’s ancestors. But because the masks were made from wax, none survived. Recently, a group of archaeologists created their own wax masks using their own faces, and the results were stunning. The researchers, who study at Cornell University, recently presented…

io9 George Dvorsky Jan 7

The 11 Most Sexually Depraved Things the Roman Emperors Ever Did

The emperors of Rome could be wise, just and kind. They could also be vindictive, cruel and insane. And most of all, they could be the worst perverts the world has ever seen — at least according to ancient historians like Suetonius, Pliny, and Cassius Dio. Here are nearly a dozen of the most immoral,…

io9 Rob Bricken Dec 9

Could the Ancient Romans Have Built a Digital Computer?

The Romans were undoubtedly master engineers. They were experts at civil engineering, building roads, improving sanitation, inventing Roman concrete, and constructing aqueducts that adhere to tolerances impressive even by today’s standards. Perhaps the best evidence of their aptitude is the fact that many of those structures still stand today, almost 2000 years later. They even…

Tech News Hunter Scott Mar 5

This interactive travel map of the Roman Empire is like Oregon Trail meets Civilization

Ever wondered how long it would take to travel from Rome to Constantinople at the peak of the Roman Empire? Or from Luna to Larissa? Or Parma to Thessalonica? This map of the Roman World created at Stanford University is awesomely realistic — all the ancient transportation lines on it actually existed 2,000 years ago.…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Jan 17

Ancient Romans carved winged penises to ward off the evil eye

Amateur archaeologists have been using metal detectors to uncover a trove of ancient Roman artifacts in Britain. Among the centuries-old goodies discovered in 2011 were a pornographic knife handle and a couple of winged penises. Their purpose? To protect the possessor from evil, especially evil wielding a penis of its own. Images below might be…

io9 Lauren Davis Oct 27

Scientists Use Radar to Unearth Incredible Roman Gladiator School

Forty miles outside out Vienna, a crack team of European scientists have managed to discover the ruins of a Roman gladiator school using only radar. It is one of most well-preserved finds of its kind, and it even rivals the Colosseum in scale. The ruins will remain underground as the scientist try to reach an…

Tech News Kwame Opam Sep 6

Gladiator’s tombstone complains about bad refs 1,800 years ago

For as long as there have been sports, there have been fans complaining about referees whose terrible calls rob their team of victory. The oldest – and most brutal – example of this can be found on a gladiator’s epitaph. About a hundred years ago, a stone was unearthed in Turkey which served as a…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins Jun 20

A surprising discovery about how ancient Romans used lead pipes for food

The wreck of a Roman ship was discovered 25 years ago, and nobody could explain why a large lead pipe was smashed through the hull. Now we know it’s just another example of Roman engineering prowess. Specifically, it’s a fish tank. It’s easily taken for granted, but the idea of transporting foods over long distances…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins Jun 1

How many groups reached the Americas before Christopher Columbus?

In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in what is now the Bahamas, changing the world forever. But was he first non-indigenous person to reach the Americas? Vikings got there before him, and possibly Polynesians too…and those are just the sane theories. Before we get started on this, I want to make one thing clear – this…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins Mar 30

6th Century B.C. Palace Proves That To Destroy Something Is To Preserve It

Archaeologists have made an incredible discovery: The remains of a palace that belonged to Rome’s last royal family before the rebellion that created the Republic. But what rebels did to destroy this symbol of monarchy ironically preserved it. Researchers at the dig believe that the palace was destroyed in the Roman revolt of 510 B.C.,…

io9 Annalee Newitz Feb 26

Skeletons Found In Ancient Cemetery Still Have Shackles On Their Necks

Just How Did The Ancient Greeks And Romans Cut Marble?

People Have Suffered From Gluten Intolerance For At Least 2,000 Years

No, Rome’s Collapse Wasn’t Caused By Lead Poisoning

Looter caught trying to sell a hoard of Roman gold and silver

Ancient Roman funeral masks made from wax were freakishly lifelike

The 11 Most Sexually Depraved Things the Roman Emperors Ever Did

Could the Ancient Romans Have Built a Digital Computer?

This interactive travel map of the Roman Empire is like Oregon Trail meets Civilization

Ancient Romans carved winged penises to ward off the evil eye

Scientists Use Radar to Unearth Incredible Roman Gladiator School

Gladiator’s tombstone complains about bad refs 1,800 years ago

A surprising discovery about how ancient Romans used lead pipes for food

How many groups reached the Americas before Christopher Columbus?

6th Century B.C. Palace Proves That To Destroy Something Is To Preserve It

The First ‘Maul: Shadow Lord’ Reactions Are Most Solid

‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 3 Is Doing What You Hoped

Wearables Are Getting Very Messy

Trump Wants to Start Privatizing TSA in Latest Budget Proposal

Lost Warship From Battle of Copenhagen Found After 225 Years

These One-of-a-Kind Objects Are in the Wrong Museums

Two Songs We Really Wish Were the Anime Outros for ‘Steel Ball Run’

AI Training Data Giant Mercor Is Reportedly Looking to Buy the Work You Did at Your Old Job

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

The Best Gadgets of March 2026

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Let us help find what you are looking for...

Ancient rome

Skeletons Found In Ancient Cemetery Still Have Shackles On Their Necks

Just How Did The Ancient Greeks And Romans Cut Marble?

People Have Suffered From Gluten Intolerance For At Least 2,000 Years​

No, Rome’s Collapse Wasn’t Caused By Lead Poisoning

Looter caught trying to sell a hoard of Roman gold and silver

Ancient Roman funeral masks made from wax were freakishly lifelike

​The 11 Most Sexually Depraved Things the Roman Emperors Ever Did

Could the Ancient Romans Have Built a Digital Computer?

This interactive travel map of the Roman Empire is like Oregon Trail meets Civilization

Ancient Romans carved winged penises to ward off the evil eye

Scientists Use Radar to Unearth Incredible Roman Gladiator School

Gladiator’s tombstone complains about bad refs 1,800 years ago

A surprising discovery about how ancient Romans used lead pipes for food

How many groups reached the Americas before Christopher Columbus?

6th Century B.C. Palace Proves That To Destroy Something Is To Preserve It

The First ‘Maul: Shadow Lord’ Reactions Are Most Solid

‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 3 Is Doing What You Hoped

Wearables Are Getting Very Messy

Trump Wants to Start Privatizing TSA in Latest Budget Proposal

Lost Warship From Battle of Copenhagen Found After 225 Years

These One-of-a-Kind Objects Are in the Wrong Museums

Two Songs We Really Wish Were the Anime Outros for ‘Steel Ball Run’

AI Training Data Giant Mercor Is Reportedly Looking to Buy the Work You Did at Your Old Job

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

The Best Gadgets of March 2026

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Let us help find what you are looking for...

People Have Suffered From Gluten Intolerance For At Least 2,000 Years

The 11 Most Sexually Depraved Things the Roman Emperors Ever Did