New Discoveries At An Italian Town Change Everything We Knew About The Roman Empire

Imagine a town that was once a bustling hub of trade, culture and politics in ancient Rome, but now lies buried under the fields of modern Italy. A town that survived wars, invasions and natural disasters for centuries, but was eventually abandoned by its inhabitants. A town that was so obscure that no one bothered to excavate it, until recently. This is the story of Interamna Laurinas, the hidden gem of Roman history. Interamna Laurinas was founded in 312 BC as a colony of Latin settlers on the border with the Samnite people who were fierce enemies of Rome. The town played a crucial role in the Samnite Wars, a series of conflicts that lasted for over 50 years and shaped the destiny of Rome. Interamna Laurinas was attacked and destroyed by the Samnites in 294 BC, but was quickly rebuilt by the Romans. It also faced the wrath of Hannibal, the Carthaginian general who invaded Italy in 218 BC and threatened to overthrow Rome. Hannibal sacked the town in 212 BC and the town's inhabitants were forced to pay a heavy tribute to Carthage after the war. Despite these hardships, Interamna Laurinas prospered and grew in size and importance. It became a municipium, a self-governing town with full Roman citizenship in about 88 BC, following the Social War, a rebellion of Rome's allies who demanded equal rights. It also received the patronage of Julius Caesar, the most powerful man in Rome who used the town as a base during the civil wars of the 1st century BC. Caesar granted the town special privileges and settled some of his veterans there. Interamna Laurinas was not a provincial backwater as some scholars have assumed but a vibrant and wealthy town that boasted impressive public buildings and amenities. A team of archaeologists from Cambridge University has uncovered the remains of a roofed theatre, a rare and luxurious feature that could accommodate 1,500 spectators. The theatre was faced with exotic marbles from the eastern Mediterranean and displayed the town's status and ambition. The theatre also contained a remarkable discovery, an inscribed sundial, a device that measured time using the shadow of the sun. The archaeologists have also revealed the presence of a large warehouse, a temple and a bath complex near the river Liri which indicate that the town had a flourishing river port that facilitated trade and commerce. Interamna Laurinas was a resilient and adaptable town that resisted the decline that affected many other parts of Roman Italy in the late imperial period. The analysis of the pottery found at the site has shown that the town maintained its vitality and prosperity until the later part of the 3rd century AD, about 300 years later than previously thought. The town's inhabitants continued to enjoy the benefits of urban life such as public entertainment, bathing and religion, even as the empire faced political and military crises. However, the town's fate changed dramatically in the 4th and 5th centuries AD when the Roman Empire was invaded by various barbarian tribes such as the Goths, the Huns and the Vandals. The town's location, which was once an advantage became a liability as it lay on the path of the invaders who marched towards Rome. The town's residents, fearing for their lives and property decided to abandon the town and seek refuge elsewhere. The town was never rebuilt and was gradually forgotten by history. Interamna Laurinas remained hidden under the soil for centuries until a team of archaeologists decided to explore it several years ago. Using advanced techniques such as magnetic and ground penetrating radar surveys, they have mapped the extent and layout of the town which covers about 60 acres or 24 hectares. They have also conducted a series of excavations that have brought to light the town's remarkable history and culture. Their findings challenge the conventional view of Roman Italy as a monolithic and homogeneous entity and reveal the diversity and dynamism of its urban landscape. The discoveries at Interamna Laurinas show the resilience and adaptability of the Roman people who created and sustained a complex and sophisticated civilization for centuries. It is a window into the past and a mirror of the present. Thank you for watching this video about Interamna Laurinas, the hidden gem of Roman history. We hope you enjoyed learning about this fascinating town and its remarkable discoveries. If you liked this video, please give it a thumbs up and share it with your friends. And don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more videos about archaeology, history and culture. See you next time.