This Week In History News, July 21 – 27

Published July 26, 2019

Roman gladiator arena uncovered, Ancient Greek island complex found, historic bridge accidentally destroyed.

2,000-Year-Old Roman Gladiator Arena Uncovered In Turkey

Ruins Of Anavarza

Ancient OriginsAn arch that comprises a mere fraction of the ancient ruins uncovered in Anavarza.

Roman gladiator events so often show up in movies, legends, and the like that it’s sometimes hard to remember that these bloody spectacles actually once happened in real life. And Turkish archaeologists digging in the southern province of Adana’s Dilekkaya village recently came face to face with direct evidence of these violent shows that unfolded centuries ago.

An archaeological dig led by Çukurova University’s Fatih Gülsen in the 2,000-year-old city of Anavarza (also known as Anazarbus) has revealed a battlefield used by gladiators, complete with a large triumphal arch.

Read on here.

4,600-Year-Old Complex On A Tiny Greek Island Is Totally Changing Our Understanding Of Ancient Greece

Dhaskalio Islet In Greece

Wikimedia CommonsThe tiny islet of Dhaskalio is situated off the larger island of Keros, which is 125 southeast of Athens.

New excavations on the Aegean islet of Dhaskalio are giving archaeologists an entirely new understanding of ancient Greece. A dig on the small island 125 miles southeast of Athens has revealed a stunning 4,600-year-old complex of buildings.

The complex is situated on the Dhaskalio islet off the island of Keros, and is shaped like a small pyramid-esque mountain peak. Researchers believe the site may have contributed to the core ancient Greek belief that mountaintops were where the gods lived.

Dig deeper in this report.

Bean-Carrying Truck Overloads And Collapses Historic 113-Year-Old Bridge

Northwood Bridge Truck

Grand Forks County Sheriffs OfficeThe truck’s owner, Shane C. Olson, said he’s forgiven driver Michael Dodds and won’t be firing him for the accident.

North Dakota’s Northwood Bridge spanned 56 feet over the Goose River. The wood-plank bridge was built in 1906 for $2,450 by the Fargo Bridge and Iron Co., and has since won its rightful place on the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately, a 42-ton semitrailer truck just broke it — big time.

A trucker carrying a hefty load of beans merely adhered to his GPS’s directions on Monday. The cargo load of dried navy beans, in addition to the vehicle’s overall weight, unfortunately, was too much to bear for the 113-year-old bridge.

See more here.

author
All That's Interesting
author
Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
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.