Archaeologists in France have discovered dozens of Roman-era graves of men who were buried with "curse tablets," at least one of which was written in an extinct language. Excavations underneath an ...

Curse tablets were widespread throughout the Roman world, although they were considered a form of black magic and forbidden by law. They consisted of a curse to harm an enemy — generally as ...

Service d'archéologie, 2024 While excavating a historic hospital in France, a team of archaeologists uncovered dozens of Roman-era graves, some with ancient “curse tablets,” in what appears ...

The lead scrolls, or “curse tablets,” found at the ancient Roman complex. Photo from Red River Archaeology Group Ancient Roman “curse tablets” are mostly found near cultural centers ...

Some curse tablets contained “binding spells,” which were used ... and deposited in an underground conduit to the underworld: wells, cisterns, Roman baths, sanctuaries, and, very often, graves. The ...