A 2,000-year-old fast-food stall (摊位) unearthed from the ashes of Pompeii has given researchers new clues about the snacking habits of the ancient Romans. The snack bar counter, decorated with multicolored patterns and frozen by volcanic ash, was partially unearthed last year but archaeologists extended work on the site to reveal it in its full glory.
Pompeii was buried in a sea of boiling lava when the volcano on nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, killing between 2,000 and 15,000 people. Archaeologists continued to make discoveries there.
The team found duck bone pieces as well as the remains of pigs, goats, fish and snails in earthenware pots. Some of the ingredients had been cooked together like a Roman-era paella(什锦饭). Crushed fava beans(碎蚕豆), used to improve the taste of wine, were found at the bottom of one jar.
“The counter appears to have been closed in a hurry and abandoned by its owners, perhaps as the first noises of the eruption were felt,” said Massimo Osanna, director general at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
“A water tower and a fountain were found alongside human remains, including those of a man believed to have been aged about 50 and discovered near a child’s bed. The remains of another person were also found and could be those of an opportunist thief or someone fleeing the eruption who was surprised by the burning steam just as he opened the pot,” Osanna said.
In the latest stage of their work, archaeologists uncovered a number of still-life scenes, including details about animals believed to have been on the menu, notably wild ducks and a chicken, for serving up with wine or hot drinks.
“As well as bearing witness to daily life in Pompeii, the possibilities to analyze that afforded by this stall are predictable because for the first time we have uncovered a site in its entirety,” Osanna said.
【小题1】What was found to be used by ancient Romans to make the wine tastier?| A．Steamed pork. |
| B．Duck bone pieces. |
| C．A Roman-era paella. |
| D．Crushed fava beans. |
| A．It was burnt by a little kid. |
| B．It was ruined by a flood. |
| C．It was shut down hurriedly. |
| D．It was broken into by animals. |
| A．The significance of discovering the stall. |
| B．The regret for the loss of the ancient city. |
| C．The barrier to bringing the site back to life. |
| D．The potential of recovering the hidden stall. |
| A．A Lost City Finds Its Way With the Help of a Stall |
| B．An Old Fast-food Stall Was Reopened to Customers |
| C．A Snack Bar Counter Was Destroyed by Volcanic Ash |
| D．An Unearthed Stall Throws Light on Roman Snacking Habits |
