today on this day...

[JWintjes]

Well, actually yesterday, but for your colonials it's still today...

Traditionally the final battle at the Aegadian islands in the first Punic war is dated to the 10th of March 241; Rome's last effort at building a fleet won a decisive victory against a Carthaginian contingent, thereby forcing the Carthaginians to the negotiating table.

The first Punic war must rank among the bloodiest naval wars ever fought. It is noteworthy that the Carthaginians actually had wiped the Romans from the sea in 244, only to demobilize their own fleet afterwards.

Jorit

[kennylibben]

Ah, the good ol' Punic Wars! Personally I prefer the second....

[HMAS]

A sweet young slave girl died when the ship she was on sank, just to give up her ankle/wrist braclet to me.

[Jack Ray]

A sweet young slave girl died when the ship she was on sank, just to give up her ankle/wrist braclet to me.

[chuck]

A sweet young slave girl died when the ship she was on sank, just to give up her ankle/wrist braclet to me.

Are you sure she didn't transfer her shackles to you so she could swim away and leave you chained to the rowing bench instead?

[HMAS]

Your're all only jealous! besides she was no good at rowing, too skinny methinks.
ok the bracelet is copper & could have only fitted someone very skinny/smallish frame. Came out of the wreck debris next to combs etc.
Tony

[Werner]

How do you know it wasn't a rotund Nubian man?

[HMAS]

I don't !
But I wish to believe the former, as wot it wuz sold as!

I'll send it to CSI who will extract the dna & find out from them, a facial profile as well would be nice if they had the time.1 hr with commercial breaks fine
yeah I know it doesn't work that way

[JWintjes]

Ah, wreck looters and grave robbers - were would the world be without them...

Jorit

[Werner]

Ah, wreck looters and grave robbers - were would the world be without them...

Jorit

Not required by the US Forest Service to bulldoze every quarry at the end of the field season.
Not required to teach a student the use of firearms because the locals cannot be trusted.
Not required to form organizations like SAFE ("Save America's Fossils for Everyone")
Not required to weep when someone brings in a slab or egg purchased on Ebay, which originated in China.

Fortunately, many of the "enthusiasts" are now more willing to spend their lucre on reproductions. Former US Speaker Newt Gingrich has the complete head of "Stan" the T.rex in his office ... fortunately, the $10,000 resin copy and not the priceless original.

[JWintjes]

Not required to teach a student the use of firearms because the locals cannot be trusted.

Ups, didn't know the average American is so opposed to digging up old bones... Seriously, though, that's far from uncommon in the world of Classics. Digging in the Iraq was quite exciting even in the old days when the antiquities authoritiy was run by one of Saddam's nephews and had a real interest in protecting digs as they produced valuable stuff that could be sold on the black market.

Not required to form organizations like SAFE ("Save America's Fossils for Everyone")

Well, not unknown to us, but see for yourself:

http://www.artemisagrotera.org/default.htm

Incidentally, in case you don't want a prime archaeological site "redeveloped", there's a petition to sign:

http://www.artemisagrotera.org/en/petition.asp

Not required to weep when someone brings in a slab or egg purchased on Ebay, which originated in China.

Oh yes. Talk about coins and military diplomas dug up with the help of metal detectors and sold either on ebay (coins) or on the market (diplomas). Coin hoards are valuable for establishing the chronology, but if dug up without any regard to their context, they are effectively lost for that purposes. With diplomas it's even worse.

Jorit

[Sean Hert]

Not required to teach a student the use of firearms because the locals cannot be trusted.

We carried so we could dispatch rattlesnakes; they are territorial, and if one moved into a site you had to get rid of it. Same with Gila Monsters.

Don't really miss the Arizona desert in spring.... (That's a lie- I really do!)