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Colosseum sewers yield morsels eaten during shows

Animal bones including dachsunds, as well as ancient coin

Redazione Ansa

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 25 - A new dig at the sewers of the Colosseum has yielded half-chewed morsels of the snacks eaten by spectators watching gladiators fight to the death and animals including dachsunds being hunted down in the ancient arena.
    Among the tidbits found are pieces of barbecued meat, pizza, vegetables and fruit, said archaeologist Federica Rinaldi, who led the dig.
    Among the animal bones unearthed are those of lions, leopards, bears, and dogs including even tiny dachsunds which were forced to fight each other or killed by hunters in the terrible 'venationes' which delighted the Roman people for so many centuries.
    Coins have also been found, including a sesterce with the head of Marcus Aurelius issued, according to archaeologist and numismatics expert Francesca Ceci, on the 10th anniversary of the philosopher emperor to augur 10 more years of happy rule in 170-171 AD.
    "With a flight of fancy," Ceci told reporters, "we can imagine the shiny coins thrown onto the crowd, and one of these, our sesterce, which then fell onto the sand of the arena and was swept away along with the blood of men and animals". (ANSA).
   

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