🧐 Ancient Beat #142: Stone faces, hominin expansion, and the height of luxury

Welcome, friends! This is issue #142 of Ancient Beat. Let’s do it.

Here’s the latest ancient news. 👇

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🗞 Ancient News: Top 5

• Once-in-a-Century Discovery Reveals Spectacular Luxury of Pompeii — Archaeologists in Pompeii have unearthed an exceptionally well-preserved private bathhouse, believed to be the largest of its kind found in the city. The complex includes hot, warm, and cold rooms, adorned with vibrant frescoes and intricate mosaics. A notable feature is a plunge pool in the frigidarium, capable of accommodating 20 to 30 people. The bathhouse is part of a grand residence thought to belong to a wealthy individual, possibly the politician Aulus Rustius Verus. The excavation also revealed a banquet hall with black walls and artwork depicting classical scenes, as well as a smaller blue room used for prayer. Tragically, the remains of two individuals — a woman aged between 35 and 50, and a younger man in his teens or early 20s — were found in a small room, victims of the Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 CE. The woman was discovered clutching jewelry and coins, while the man held keys, providing poignant insights into their final moments.

• Restoration of the Alexander Mosaic Reveals Tile Sources — The renowned Alexander Mosaic, discovered in 1831 in Pompeii's House of the Faun and now housed at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, comprises over two million tesserae sourced from various regions. Recent analysis using portable X-ray fluorescence identified the stones' origins, including quarries in Italy, the Iberian Peninsula, Greece, and Tunisia. For instance, different shades of pink tesserae, used to depict Alexander's face with varying luminescence, are believed to have been imported from Portugal. Traces of wax and gypsum found on the mosaic suggest applications during past restorations or possibly as support during its transport from Pompeii to Naples. An endoscopic examination of the mosaic's back revealed areas lacking gypsum, indicating potential structural weaknesses that should be addressed in future conservation efforts.

  

  Image credit: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Mysterious Stone Face Discovered on Cistern Wall — In the ancient city of Ptolemais on Libya's Mediterranean coast, archaeologists have uncovered a human face sculpted from hydraulic mortar on the wall of a cistern dating to the late 4th to 3rd century BCE. The cistern was part of a villa's advanced water system, where a peristyle pool collected rainwater and directed it into underground storage. The face bears a resemblance to carvings found in the Libyan sanctuary in Slonta, suggesting possible cultural influences or origins of the villa's inhabitants.

  

  Image credit: Anna Tomkowska

• New Evidence May Reveal the Source of Mercury in the Tomb of the First Emperor — Recent archaeological surveys in Xunyang City, Ankang, have identified three ancient cinnabar sites—Shimiaogou, Chuantangping, and Guojiawan. Cinnabar, primarily composed of mercuric sulfide, is the most commonly used ore for refining elemental mercury. These discoveries offer crucial clues in tracing the source of the mercury used in the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. The Shimiaogou site, located near the Xunyang Qingtonggou cinnabar mining area, revealed cultural relics from various periods, suggesting long-term cinnabar extraction. This evidence supports the theory that the mercury found in the First Emperor's tomb originated from these local sources.

• Tracing the Dawn of Humanity: Hominins in Eurasia Before 2 Million Years Ago — Recent research from the Grăunceanu site in Romania indicates that early human ancestors inhabited Europe as far back as 1.95 million years ago — roughly 150,000 years earlier than previously thought. Cut-marked animal bones suggest deliberate butchery, highlighting early tool use. Isotopic analysis reveals these hominins lived in temperate, seasonal climates with forest-steppe habitats, demonstrating adaptability to diverse environments. This evidence challenges previous timelines of human migration out of Africa, suggesting a more complex and widespread dispersal into Eurasia during favorable climatic periods.

That’s it for the free Top 5! If you’re a free subscriber, sign up for the paid plan for another 23 discoveries and 6 recommended pieces of content covering Sogdians, hipposandals, helmets, archaic humans, and the Plain of Jars.

Until next time, thanks for joining me!

-James
Twitter: @jamesofthedrum

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🗞 Ancient News: Deep Dive