Colosseum Sewer Excavation Reveals Ancient Roman Snacks and Spectacle Debris

A research team led by Martina Almonte, Federica Rinaldi, and Barbara Nazzaro has been excavating the southern sewer of the Colosseum since January 2022, uncovering a wealth of artifacts that illuminate the habits of ancient Romans during spectacles. The finds include seeds and fruits of cultivated plants (figs, grapes, melons, olives, peaches, cherries, plums, walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts) and wild plants like blackberries, likely food consumed by spectators. Also recovered were boxwood and laurel leaves used to decorate the arena, animal bones from bears, lions, dogs, and dachshunds forced to fight or used in hunting shows (venationes), as well as dice, a bone hairpin, shoe studs, leather fragments, and 53 late-era bronze coins, including a brass sestertius of Marcus Aurelius from 170-171 AD. The research aims to understand the ancient hydraulic system to solve modern water drainage problems at the amphitheater. Alfonsina Russo, director of the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo, stated that the findings were presented in a public archaeology day to share knowledge with citizens, with scientific publication to follow.