Two hundred years ago, a strange stone head, weighing a gargantuan 170 kg (375 lb), was discovered in a flowerbed in Chichester, England. Its origin remained a mystery until October 2013, when archaeologists used laser scanning technology to identify it as belonging to a statue of the Roman Emperor Trajan. The “Bosham Head” dates back to A.D. 122 and is one of the most significant relics found from Roman Britain.
Previously, identifying the head’s origin had been thought impossible, considering its extremely weathered condition (it may have spent some time at the bottom of the sea). However, modern laser technology allowed scientists to identify facial features and even a hairstyle, all of which pointed to Trajan.
Historians now believe the statue was set up to greet visitors as they entered Chichester’s harbor—the gateway to England. A similar work was on display at Ostia Harbor in Rome. The titanic statue would have proudly asserted Rome’s dominance over the area.
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