Photos: A Roman entertainment district brought back to life

Countdowns
By published

Carnuntum reconstructed

The team, from the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology (LBI ArchPro), created digital reconstructions of what the area around the amphitheater would have looked like.

The team, from the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology (LBI ArchPro), created digital reconstructions of what the area around the amphitheater would have looked like. (Image credit: LBI ArchPro/7reasons)

The team, from the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology (LBI ArchPro), created digital reconstructions of what the area around the amphitheater would have looked like. [Read the full story here]

Gladiator school and shops

A few years ago, the researchers found a gladiator school, and more recently they identified a wide, shop-lined boulevard.

A few years ago, the researchers found a gladiator school, and more recently they identified a wide, shop-lined boulevard. (Image credit: LBI ArchPro/7reasons)

A few years ago, the researchers found a gladiator school, and more recently they identified a wide, shop-lined boulevard.

Underground city

Carnuntum fell into decline in the fourth century A.D., and now the city is largely hidden underground. So the archaeologists used non-invasive methods, like ground-penetrating radar, to peer under the surface.

Carnuntum fell into decline in the fourth century A.D., and now the city is largely hidden underground. So the archaeologists used non-invasive methods, like ground-penetrating radar, to peer under the surface. (Image credit: LBI ArchPro/7reasons)

Carnuntum fell into decline in the fourth century A.D., and now the city is largely hidden underground. So the archaeologists used non-invasive methods, like ground-penetrating radar, to peer under the surface.

Old amphitheater

The researchers also revealed the layout of a forgotten older wooden amphitheater near the main amphitheater. It had been buried under the walls of the civilian city.

The researchers also revealed the layout of a forgotten older wooden amphitheater near the main amphitheater. It had been buried under the walls of the civilian city. (Image credit: LBI ArchPro/7reasons)

The researchers also revealed the layout of a forgotten older wooden amphitheater near the main amphitheater. It had been buried under the walls of the civilian city.

Bread and games

The team identified a huge oven that likely would have been used for baking bread to feed the spectators.

The team identified a huge oven that likely would have been used for baking bread to feed the spectators. (Image credit: LBI ArchPro/7reasons)

The team identified a huge oven that likely would have been used for baking bread to feed the spectators.

Wine cellar

Underground cellars would have stored the food and wine sold in the area’s taverns.

Underground cellars would have stored the food and wine sold in the area’s taverns. (Image credit: LBI ArchPro/7reasons)

Underground cellars would have stored the food and wine sold in the area’s taverns.

Shopping

This entertainment district was separate from the rest of the city and clearly led up to the amphitheater.

This entertainment district was separate from the rest of the city and clearly led up to the amphitheater. (Image credit: LBI ArchPro/7reasons)

This entertainment district was separate from the rest of the city and clearly led up to the amphitheater. It probably also would have included shops where people could buy souvenirs to remember their day at the arena.

Megan Gannon
Megan Gannon
Live Science Contributor
Megan has been writing for Live Science and Space.com since 2012. Her interests range from archaeology to space exploration, and she has a bachelor's degree in English and art history from New York University. Megan spent two years as a reporter on the national desk at NewsCore. She has watched dinosaur auctions, witnessed rocket launches, licked ancient pottery sherds in Cyprus and flown in zero gravity. Follow her on Twitter and Google+.