This Week In History News, Jul. 17 – 23

Published July 22, 2022

"Monumental" Roman city uncovered in Spain, England's oldest shipwreck found in Dorset, decades-old murder case solved in New Jersey.

Archaeologists In Spain Just Discovered A “Monumental” Roman City That’s Totally Missing From Any Historical Records

Mosaic From Roman City In Spain

University of ZaragozaArchaeologists had been digging in various places in the area for more than a decade, thinking they were excavating unrelated sites — but they just realized they’d actually been uncovering one massive, interconnected city all along.

When researchers from the University of Zaragoza in Aragón, Spain were recently asked to tend to some neglected ruins, they never expected to stumble upon an entire ancient Roman city of “monumental proportions.”

Located near the modern town of Artieda, this Roman settlement includes streets, sewer systems, pieces of statues, what’s believed to be a temple, as well as a bathhouse complete with a mosaic floor featuring elaborate nautical and religious motifs. Furthermore, the researchers remain shocked that this vast city has no known name and is not mentioned anywhere in the historical record.

Learn more about this astonishing find here.

This Cargo Vessel That Sank Seven Centuries Ago Has Just Been Declared The Oldest Shipwreck In English History

Mortar Shipwreck

Bournemouth University/Historic EnglandA diver inspects one of the Purbeck marble gravestones discovered amid the wreck.

Seven-hundred-and-fifty years ago, a ship sank in Poole bay in Dorset, England. Now, this shipwreck has been declared England’s oldest, and given government protection.

The excavation revealed “exceptionally preserved” timber, as well as unworked Purbeck marble. Furthermore, the wreck was dubbed the “Mortar Shipwreck” because it contained mortar bowls used for grinding grain into flour.

Dig deeper in this report.

New Jersey’s “Princess Doe” Was Just Identified — 40 Years After Her Murder

Princess Doe Dawn Olanick

National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenDawn Olanick, a.k.a. “Princess Doe,” was 17 years old and a junior in high school when she was murdered.

Forty years ago, the remains of a teenage girl beaten beyond recognition were found in a graveyard in Blairstown, New Jersey. Dubbed “Princess Doe,” she was buried by locals, who always wondered about her identity.

Now, thanks to DNA evidence and the confession of a convicted killer, Princess Doe has finally been identified as Dawn Olanick. What’s more, investigators have also named her suspected killer, Arthur Kinlaw.

Read on here.

author
All That's Interesting
author
A New York-based publisher established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science to share stories that illuminate our world.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.