Flash Talk | Spartacus Stopped: Uncovering a Roman Defensive Wall

October’s Flash Talk will highlight the research of Paolo Visonà, a professor at the University of Kentucky and an IPAMAA alumnus (1985). In the Dossone della Melia forest in south-central Calabria, Italy, Dr. Visonà led a team that identified a 2.7-km-long Roman defensive wall and ditch—initially constructed by the Roman general Marcus Licinius Crassus to contain Spartacus and his forces during their slave revolt. The discovery also included numerous battle remnants such as broken iron weapons, suggesting that a conflict occurred there. This talk will detail how Visonà’s team uncovered the wall’s historical significance, all the while shedding new light on Roman military history and Spartacus’s legendary rebellion.

Kelsey Museum Flash Talks are 15-minute Zoom lectures by Kelsey curators, staff members, researchers, graduate students, and guests talking about their recent research or current projects. Each presentation is followed by 15 minutes of Q&A. Flash Talks are free and open to all visitors. They take place at noon on the first Friday of every month.

To register for this Flash Talk, fill out the form at https://forms.gle/J4xSE6ZxetbxMLzBA. Zoom log-in information will be provided upon registration. Please sign up by 9:30 AM the day of the event to ensure you receive a confirmation email containing the access code.