The ancient city of Pompeii was destroyed by a volcanic eruption almost 2000 years ago, leaving large portions of the city undiscovered. Now, it looks as though Archaeologists are finally beginning to uncover the lost ruins that Pompeii is hiding.
Ancient food store discovered in Pompeii
Archaeologists have discovered an ancient hot food and drinks shop that was built to serve up the ancient equivalent of street food to locals in the city. Amazingly, the shop is still decorated with brightly coloured paintings of what appears to a chicken, and ducks hanging upside down, possibly suggesting what items were on the menu.
‘Our preliminary analyses shows that the figures drawn on the front of the counter, represent, at least in part, the food and drink that were sold there,’ said Valeria Amoretti, a site anthropologist, as reported by Reuters.
The ancient food shop, or termopolium, which is Latin for ‘ hot drinks counter’, was discovered in the archaeological park’s Regio V site. Not only did archaeologists find the ancient structure in near-perfect condition, but they also discovered traces of pork, fish, snails and beef in deep terra cotta jars around the site, according to reports from the BBC.
Massimo Ossana, director of the Pompeii archaeological park, told Reuters that the find was ‘extraordinary’.
‘It’s the first time we are excavating an entire termopolium,’ Ossana added.
The site at which the termopolium was discovered is located around 23km south-east of Naples and is currently closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, officials at the site hope to reopen by Easter, where travellers will be able to view the ancient food shop up close. According to the BBC, a third of the city remains undiscovered, with new findings continuing to emerge. In November of this year, archaeologists discovered the remains of two men who were killed during the eruption.
Take a look at the discovery below
Archeologists have uncovered a freaking ancient street food shop in pompeii and it looks weird and cool. pic.twitter.com/4iNkHtyZnA
— Good News Only (@PositivityHome) December 26, 2020
Picture: Twitter/@PositivityHome
