Watching gladiators fight to the death was apparently a pastime for the Romans, like watching movies. It can even be entertainment that makes people hungry. It seems that the best snacks to accompany such a show were olives, fruit and nuts at that time. Archaeologists discovered some ancient remains while excavating the sewers of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. And these remnants shed light on the “snack habits” of the audience.
Figs, grapes and melon seeds, which are thought to have been eaten by the audience 1,900 years ago, as well as traces of olives and walnuts make up these remains. These remains were unearthed in 70-metre search channels, including bone fragments of wild animals fighting for their lives in a Roman arena.
The results of the study by the Colosseum Archaeological Park were presented by the park’s manager, Alfonsina Russo. Russo said this discovery “deepens our understanding of the experience and habits of those who come to this place during the long days dedicated to the performances.”
His team began their research in January to better understand the hydraulic functioning of the sewers below the southern portion of the 2,000-year-old amphitheater. Scientists from Rome’s Sotterranea used wire-guided robots to navigate the sewer system and document finds from the last years of the Colosseum’s use as an entertainment venue.
Besides bear, lion and leopard bones, dog bones were also found. Some even descended from the dachshund, a species the Romans used to hunt foxes and badgers.
Archaeologists have also found ancient seeds and fruits of cultivated plants such as figs, grapes, melons, olives, peaches, cherries, plums, walnuts, hazelnuts and pine nuts.
In addition, they uncovered the remains of some self-grown plants, such as blackberries, which were probably admired by the Colosseum audience. Parts of ornamental plants such as boxwood, bay leaves, and evergreen woody plants were also found in sewers and drains.
Other finds included a crafted bone pin, clothespins, shoe nails, and man-made clothing such as leather, and game dice.
There were also at least 53 bronze coins from the late Roman period between 250 and 450 AD and a commemorative silver coin from 170 or 171 AD.
These silver coins were celebrating the ten-year rule of the emperor Marcus Aurelius and may suggest that the royal family distributed money to ingratiate themselves with their subjects.
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