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.
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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”.
