Archaeologists uncover ancient street food shop in Pompeii
Send a link to a friend
[December 28, 2020]
By Philip Pullella
ROME (Reuters) - Archaeologists in Pompeii,
the city buried in a volcanic eruption in 79 AD, have made the
extraordinary find of a frescoed hot food and drinks shop that served up
the ancient equivalent of street food to Roman passersby.
Known as a termopolium, Latin for hot drinks counter, the shop was
discovered in the archaeological park's Regio V site, which is not yet
open the public, and unveiled on Saturday.
Traces of nearly 2,000-year-old food were found in some of the deep
terra cotta jars containing hot food which the shop keeper lowered into
a counter with circular holes.
The front of the counter was decorated with brightly coloured frescoes,
some depicting animals that were part of the ingredients in the food
sold, such as a chicken and two ducks hanging upside down.
"This is an extraordinary find. It's the first time we are excavating an
entire termopolium," said Massimo Ossana, director of the Pompeii
archaeological park.
Archaeologists also found a decorated bronze drinking bowl known as a
patera, ceramic jars used for cooking stews and soups, wine flasks and
amphora.
Pompeii, 23 km (14 miles) southeast of Naples, was home to about 13,000
people when it was buried under ash, pumice pebbles and dust as it
endured the force of an eruption equivalent to many atomic bombs.
[to top of second column]
|
For the first time, archaeologists have unearthed a complete
Roman-era fast-food stall in the ruins of Pompeii, with traces of
food even remaining in some 2,000-year-old jars. Julian
Satterthwaite reports.
"Our preliminary analyses shows that the figures drawn on the front
of the counter, represent, at least in part, the food and drink that
were sold there," said Valeria Amoretti, a site anthropologist.
Amoretti said traces of pork, fish, snails and beef had been found
in the containers, a discovery she called a "testimony to the great
variety of animal products used to prepare dishes".
About two-thirds of the 66-hectare (165-acre) ancient town has been
uncovered. The ruins were not discovered until the 16th
century and organised excavations began about 1750.
A rare documentation of Greco-Roman life, Pompeii is one of Italy's
most popular attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|