W. Hommel's Blog

Posted by W. Hommel

In an exciting turn of events, archaeologists believe they have located a graveyard for Roman gladiators. This is the first time in history a graveyard has been discovered containing the bones of these fallen fighters.

The excavations, which began to take place during the month of May, have provided insight into the medical history and lifespan of gladiatorial warriors.

The graveyard itself, which is located in the city of Ephesus, was a major settlement during the Roman period. Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of 67 individuals so far, many of which have healed wounds. It is believed this evidence supports the theory they are indeed gladiator remains. On three gravestones, gladiator motifs are clearly depicted.

Many gladiators were prisoners of war. They were considered slaves in Roman society, and were deemed part of the lower class. Despite their popularity or fame inside the arena, gladiators were not considered part of the upper class of Roman society. This recent discovery is very important, because it was believed most gladiator graves were not marked.

Posted by W. Hommel

Museums in the United States are undergoing a huge project. Contrary to popular belief, dinosaurs (such as the Tyrannosaurus rex) did not stand upright carrying their tails on the ground in a bipedal position. Instead, they moved with their bodies parallel to the ground, with their tails in mid-air. This might be old news to some, but ABC news recently reported that a lot of museums in the United States still have outdated representations on display. Smaller museums that struggle to gain funds are only beginning to have massive reconstruction done.

There is also a great deal of speculation concerning "feathered dinosaurs," other than the few species already believed to have them. T-Rex didn’t stand vertically, as Godzilla, but was he also covered in a coat of luxurious multi-colored feathers? This image is so far remote in our minds, it seems completely bizarre. Maybe one day out beloved plastic museum shop lizards will be artifacts themselves. Think dinosaurs had feathers? Check out our poll below!