Reported by Smithsonian Magazine:
When archaeologists excavated a well in Ostia Antica, an ancient city about 15 miles southwest of Rome, they found more than just water. Dozens of rare artifacts were uncovered at the bottom of the 10-foot-deep structure, according to an announcement from Italy’s culture ministry.
The well is located near the Temple of Hercules in a sacred area of the archaeological site. When the excavation began, it was still filled with water. The well-preserved artifacts, most dating to the first and second centuries C.E., were lodged in oxygen-poor mud, which had helped protect them from the elements. The trove is providing researchers with new insights into imperial life and cult rituals.
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