June 10, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 05, 1429

ROME, June 9: Archaeologists have discovered a nearly 2,000-year-old, intact necropolis on the outskirts of Rome that gives a rare insight into the lives of poor labourers in the Roman era.

The simple burial complex, dating to the 1st and 2nd century A.D. when the Roman empire was at its height, held about 320 tombs bearing well-preserved skeletal remains and artefacts like lamps and jewellery to accompany the dead into the after-life.

Archaeologists on Monday hailed the discovery as significant for offering a rare glimpse into the beliefs and traits of one of the poorest sections of Roman society — labourers or slaves who prob ably carried merchandise at a nearby port.

“The predominant aspect here is not the recovery of artefacts but the possibility of learning about the daily life of a small sample of citizens from the lowest levels of society during the Roman empire,” said Angelo Bottini, Rome’s archaeology chief.

“It gives a very concrete look into how these people lived and their religious beliefs,” Angelo Bottini told a news conference to announce the rare discovery. The human remains unearthed were predominantly male and displayed the effects of back-breaking work in humid conditions, suggesting they were likely workers at port facilities.

Some tombs also held remains of children who wore or grasped necklaces in their hand, presumably to ward off evil spirits.

Bronze rings, gold earrings and a striking necklace made of tiny figurines and pieces of amber were among other ornaments discovered in children’s tombs, archaeologists said.

Among the more intriguing finds were the remains of a full-grown man with a rare that would have made it impossible for him to open his mouth — meaning he could not have fed himself without the help of others. “Ancient peoples did not have a positive attitude towards anomalies, and tended to view them very negatively,” said Bottini.—Reuters