What a Pile of ... Sherds?!!

It is often said that archaeology is nothing more than the digging up of ancient people’s trash. The site of Monte Testaccio in the Testaccio neighborhood of Rome, however, takes this idea to an entirely new level. The entire 135-foot-high mound, now covered with grass and trees, is made up of discarded amphora sherds from the first to forth centuries A.D. The tens of thousands of amphorae represented by the massive pile of sherds originally held olive oil that had been shipped from the Roman provinces to the capital.

All of this ceramic “trash,” however, is actually quite useful for reconstructing ancient Roman economy and commerce. Many of the amphorae were marked with the seals of the olive oil distributors, as well as the names of the exporter and the contents of the vessel. Such information can help archaeologists and historians better understand the nature of commerce and exchange in the Roman Empire.

Volunteers will stay in double rooms in nearby hotels in Rome and will take their meals at local restaurants.