Archaeologists discover rare Roman ruins
Pastor Dale Morgan
Thursday April 5, 12:28 AM Reuters
*Archaeologists discover rare Roman ruins*
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek archaeologists discovered a Roman tomb filled
with glass, copper and gold artefacts and an amphitheatre on the island
of Cephalonia, which they say must have been an important link between
ancient Greece and Italy.
"It is the first time such a monument is discovered, not only in
Cephalonia but in all the Ionian Sea islands," the culture ministry said
in a statement on Wednesday.
The tomb, which included more than one grave, measures about 8 by 6
metres (yards) and included glass jars, clay pots, gold jewellery,
copper items and coins, it said.
"It is a touching detail that the (stone) door still opens and closes to
this day just as in antiquity," the ministry said.
The finds were revealed during digging for construction in the town of
Fiscardo and the theatre, which extends underground beyond the lot,
appears to be in excellent condition, the ministry added.
"From the finds so far, we see that Fiscardo was an important naval
station between Greece and Italy in antiquity," it said.
In the past, archaeologists have found near the site a group of Roman
urban dwellings - a paved open-air space surrounded by houses, a bath
and a cemetery.
The Romans conquered Greece in the first century BC.