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CRIMEA, Ukraine — Archaeologists have discovered hoards of buried treasure hidden from the ancient Roman army by residents under siege.
Researchers with the Russian-Ukrainian Archaeological Artezian Expedition 200 coins, mostly bronze, and "various items of gold, silver and bronze jewelry and glass vessels" in an ancient Artezian fortress in the Ukraine, according to MSNBC.
In a paper published in the journal Ancient Civilizations from Scythia to Siberia, Nikolai Vinokurov explained that the fortress had been besieged by the Roman army.
"Wealthy people from the settlement and the neighborhood had tried to hide there from the Romans," he said. "They had buried their hoards inside the citadel."
The Artezians lived under the Bosporan Kingdom at about the first century A.D. They were divided by two brothers, one who sought unity with Rome, the other who wanted independence. Eventually the Romans sent an army to establish control in the region, torching the settlements of those who wanted independence.
Vinokurov said the citizens used the fortress for protection from the Romans, but knew their actions were futile.
"We can say that these hoards were funeral sacrifices," he said. "It was obvious for the people that they were going to die shortly."
Live Science writer Owen Jarus noted each hoard had exactly 55 coins minted by Mithridates VIII, the brother who wanted independence from Rome.
"This is possibly just a simple coincidence, or perhaps these were equal sums received by the owners of these caskets from the supporters of Mithridates," the researchers wrote.
Vinokurov's team has been studying Artezian since 1989, and have found a strong Greek influence on the culture there. That influence is seen in the recently discovered treasure, too: jewelry is engraved with images of Greek deities Aphrodite, Nemesis and Tyche.
The researchers said the treasure, buried to protect it from the growing Roman Empire, exemplifies the defiant and desperate stand of the area's inhabitants against the army.
