FIND OF ANCIENT TOMBS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20255, 15 May 1929, Page 7

FIND OF ANCIENT TOMBS.

POSSIBLE HISTORIC SITE.

WHERE HASDRUBAL FOUGHT. Discoveries made on the farm of Signer Solazzi, of Fano, Italy, while the ground was recently being dug for a new vineyard, seem to suggest that one of the great puzzles of military history has at last been solved and that the farm and its neighbourhood form the site of the famous battle of the Metaurus, in which Hasdrubal, the brother of Hannibal, met with defeat in 207 B.C. Hasdrubal had been summoned by Hannibal to take part with him in a joint march oil Pome and had made his way through Gaul into Central Italy. The Romans after the battle of the Metaurus threw Hasdrubal's head into the camp of Hannibal as a sign of the complete defeat of his army. Tho discoveries mentioned consisted of 140 tombs, formed of large slabs of brick and containing skeletons, all of which were turned toward the east. Under the armpit of each skeleton was a Small empty amphora, but according to tho statement of the Workmen no object of personal use was discovered. The theory has been brought forward that the presence of such a number o£ human remains on this plain, which confined the ancient course of the river, indicates tho. spot of the battle of tho Metaurus. And it has been noted that in all tho surrounding neighbourhood where tombs have been found they are all of the same formation. 1 It now remains to be seen whether 1 the Archaclogical Museum of Ancona, in whose district these discoveries were made, will confirm tho popular opinion that the tombs are Roman and so settle the problem. Should confirmation be made.it is suggested that a commemorative grove should bo planted on the site.