The Ancient Mountain Made of Pots
Olive oil was a huge deal in ancient Rome. The Romans imported it from across the world, to be used at the baths, in medicine, and more. They consumed such a vast quantity of oil that they soon found themselves overwhelmed with a mass of empty terracotta containers, and nothing to do with them.
These broken pots were discarded after use because the oil residue would turn rancid, making them unsuitable for reuse. Over time, these discarded pots accumulated into a massive artificial mound that still exists today on Monte Testaccio, also known as “Potsherd Mountain”.
