Roman Tomb Found Beneath Toxic Dump

It's enough to make Caesar roll over in his grave. An ancient Roman mausoleum has been discovered beneath an illegal toxic waste dump outside Naples. The huge, vividly decorated 2nd-century tomb was found beneath some 60 tons of refuse dumped on ruins at Pizzuoli, site of the ancient Roman seaside town of Puteolanum. The entrace to a tomb tunnel was spotted after police cleared a top level of garbage to reclaim the site, reports the Independent.

"Once again we see an illegal act of huge proportions from the point of view of the environment and our cultural history," said a spokesman for an environmental group. "The operation is testimony to the neglect and abandonment of our patrimony." Mafiosi were charged years ago with illegal dumping at the site, but garbage continues to pile up. Refuse is also being dumped near Pompeii. (More ancient Rome stories.)