Five canoes recovered 35 feet underwater in Lake Bracciano, northwest of Rome, are thought to be the oldest boats ever found in the Mediterranean region. The vessels were discovered at the site of the Neolithic village of La Marmotta, which was occupied more than 7,000 years ago. The canoes were constructed from alder, oak, poplar, and beech, and the largest is 35 feet long. These technologically advanced crafts would have been capable of sailing on the Mediterranean, which was accessible from the lake via the Arrone River.

Judging from the high-quality glass, pottery, and carved gemstones found at a bathhouse in the city of Carlisle, the facility was frequented by upper-class Romans—perhaps including the emperor himself. Among the finds was a clump of Tyrian purple dye, the most expensive commodity in antiquity. Made from sea snail secretions, the pigment was reserved exclusively for royalty and the very wealthy. This is the only example ever discovered in England and may be connected with the emperor Septimius Severus’ visit to Carlisle in A.D. 208.

During the 1st millennium B.C., Teotihuacan was a thriving metropolis of at least 100,000 people, but the city was abandoned around A.D. 650 for reasons that aren’t fully understood. New analysis of 3 of the city’s monuments—the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent—revealed telltale signs of seismic damage. Researchers now believe that 5 megathrust earthquakes struck the city between A.D. 100 and 600, likely hastening its collapse.