http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-6/1193336/_44613132_roman_grave226x282.jpg


   These appear to be victims of the Antonine Plague from the time of Marcus Aurelius. The mass grave was discovered in 2005 and was filled with corpses of men, women, and children who were dumped there.  It seems they were killed by smallpox since no evidence of physical trauma was discovered.  DNA tests will be conducted to try and confirm the theory they died in an epidemic...

   Years ago an inscription was found in Germany, I think it was Mainz, from a centurio (Roman military officer) fulfilling his vows (arrangement with the gods) if his men would not suffer from the epidemic that raged through the empire.  The inscription is dated between 160 and 180 AD.  It is believed to be the smallpox that was brought into the west by soldiers returning home from campaigns in the east...

   The Antonine Plague struck between 165-180 CE.  Could be what killed these 91...

  Edited to add link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/7374836.stm

  It is believed to be the smallpox that was brought into the west by soldiers returning home from campaigns in the east...


I'm a fan of archaeology, and this is actually a really interesting discovery, but (and I'm surely going to hell for this) I can't resist...

"All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?" :)

I miss read that as 'plaque killed 91 Romans' Time for new glasses i think...........

I'm a fan of archaeology, and this is actually a really interesting discovery, but (and I'm surely going to hell for this) I can't resist...

"All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?" :)


Karma for Life Of Brian  :)