Italy's Ministry of Culture announced the discovery of an ancient laundry in Rome on June 14. Excavators came across centuries-old laundry tubs and tiled floors.
Construction workers in Italy recently came across the site of an ancient laundry near the Vatican, officials say. Italy's Ministry of Culture announced the surprising findings in a press release on June 14. The discovery was made during construction efforts at Piazza Pia, a Roman square that Italian officials are 'pedestrianizing.' Pictures of the site show archaeologists uncovering ancient tiled floors several feet below ground level.
In a statement, Italian officials said that the site was likely built to be an imperial residence. The housing would have overlooked the Tiber River 'in a scenic way with arcades, walks and gardens,' officials described. Between the second and third centuries, the site became a fullonica – or a laundry.
According to the World History Encyclopedia, launderers in ancient Rome used human and animal urine as detergent. They often collected urine – which contains ammonia – from public restrooms. 'The urine was poured into a vat with the clothing and the fullers would tread on the cloth, agitating it the way a modern-day washing machine does, to remove stains and odors,' the World History Encyclopedia's website reads.
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