Construction in Rome Reveals Well-Preserved, 2,000-Year-Old Dog Statue
by David Kindy/Smithsonianmag.com
Archaeologists excavating an ancient burial complex beneath the Via Latina, one of Rome’s oldest streets, have unearthed a terracotta statue of a dog, three tombs and an intact funerary urn, reports Roma Today. City workers discovered the site, which dates to between the first century B.C.E. and the first century C.E., while laying water pipes in the Appio Latino quarter.
“Once again, Rome shows important traces of the past in all its urban fabric,” says Daniela Porro, head of the Special Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of Rome, in a statement, per a translation by the London Times’ Philip Willan.
In ancient times, some terracotta statues served as part of the drainage system used on sloping rooftops, containing chiseled holes that allowed water to pass through, notes Alex Greenberger for ARTnews. The clay used to make the newly uncovered dog’s head is similar to the baked ceramic material found in centuries-old gutters and pipes in the region. But this particular figurine doesn’t contain holes, meaning it was probably created as a decorative fixture or gift.

Carol graduated from Riverside White Cross School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio and received her diploma as a registered nurse. She attended Bowling Green State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Literature. She attended the University of Toledo, College of Nursing, and received a Master’s of Nursing Science Degree as an Educator.
She has traveled extensively, is a photographer, and writes on medical issues. Carol has three children RJ, Katherine, and Stephen – one daughter-in-law; Katie – two granddaughters; Isabella Marianna and Zoe Olivia – and one grandson, Alexander Paul. She also shares her life with her husband Gordon Duff, many cats, and two rescues.
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