The people of Pompeii probably lived in close proximity to their garbage, according to Allison Emmerson of the University of Cincinnati. Trash has been found in cemeteries, on the floors of homes, in the streets, and along the city walls.

A farmer living near Vietnam’s Ru Than Mountain uncovered a bronze drum decorated with scenes from daily life. The drum is estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old.

Skeletal damage caused by brucellosis has been found in the 1,000-year-old bones of two teenage males at the ancient city of Butrint, which is located in Albania. The disease is associated with eating unpasteurized dairy products and had been thought to be a modern ailment.

NATO reports that one of the reasons Libya’s archaeological sites escaped serious damage during the recent conflict was a “No Strike List” compiled by Karl Von Habsburg of the Blue Shield Committee, and Joris Kila of the University of Amsterdam and The International Military Cultural Resources Work Group. The next step is “to be there really fast to make an assessment and to see what you can do immediately to help,” said Von Habsburg.

This entry was posted by Jessica E. Saraceni on Wednesday, January 4, 2012. Discussion of this blog entry is now closed.

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