Roman-era pot filled with oil lamps and bronze coins discovered

Archaeologists discovered a trove of Roman-era artefacts during excavations in Windisch, northern Swiss canton of Aargau. The 2000-year-old earthenware pot was filled with oil lamps and bronze coins.

Documentation of the find (Aargau canton archeology department)
Documentation of the find (Aargau canton archeology department)

The pot is typical of the cooking pots used by soldiers stationed at Vindonissa. It was filled with 22 oil lamps, each containing a carefully placed coin. The find is 2000 years ago, dating it from the time of the Roman legion camp Vindonissa, which was located near where Windisch is now. Each of the lamps is decorated with an image, including the moon goddess Luna, a gladiator, a lion, a peacock and an erotic scene. The bronze coins are low-value, indicating a symbolic gesture, and were struck between 66-67 AD.

The pot of finds (Aargau canton archeology department)
The pot of finds (Aargau canton archeology department)

The pot also contained charred fragments of animal bones, ruling it out as a urn for human remains. The archaeologists suspect that it was a ritual burial, but there are no other comparable finds that would confirm this speculation. Previous archaeological digs in the area have unearthed evidence of human habitation dating from the Roman era, including the foundations of buildings. Vindonissa was a Roman military camp until 101 AD, after which time the area continued to be settled by civilians.

Detail of the find (Aargau canton archeology department)
Detail of the find (Aargau canton archeology department)

(after The Local & Aargau canton archeology department)

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