Roman rubbish dump gives clues to ancient trading networks

Archaeologists examining the millions of shards of Roman amphorae found at Monte Testaccio are finding clues to the extent and sophistication of trade in the Mediterranean.

Monte Testaccio is an artificial hill in the centre of Rome that is made up of an estimated 25 million shards of broken amphorae, many from as far afield as Spain and North Africa.

The amphorae, containing wine and olive oil, were broken up and dumped on the spoil heap after being unloaded from a nearby port on the River Tiber.

They could not be reused because wine and oil residue seeped into the clay, turning rancid after a while and preventing the containers from being recycled for fresh shipments.

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Story: Nick Squires, The Telegraph | Photo: Chris Warde-Jones