Simon Ritz/INRAPOne of the ceramic jugs contained approximately 23,000 to 24,000 coins. Archaeologists have uncovered three 1,700-year-old ceramic storage jugs full of Roman coins in a village in northeastern France. The jugs, also known as amphorae, were discovered during excavations of the village of Senon that were carried out by the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP). The first jug alone weighed 83 pounds, which archaeologists estimate equals about 23,000 to 24,000 coins. The hoards of coins date back to about the last quarter of the third century C.E., or perhaps the early fourth century. The Ancient Roman “Piggy Banks” Unearthed In Northeastern France INRAPIt’s believed that these hoards were a type of long-term deposit rather than hastily buried treasure. The first amphorae of coins was actually discovered before the INRAP excavation began. It was found by the Regional Archaeology Service, according to an INRAP statement. The other two jugs, however, were uncovered once the INRAP excavation began. The second amphorae weighed about 110 pounds and contained about 18,000 to 19,000 coins. The third and final jug had already been retrieved from its cache during ancient times, and only three coins were left behind in the pit where the amphorae used to sit. Archaeologists estimate that the three hoards in total contain at least 40,000 ancient Roman coins. INRAPThe coins depicted various emperors from the Gallic Empire. While it might seem as though these coins were hidden like buried treasure, archaeologists actually theorize that these amphorae functioned more like piggy banks and were used to store long-term savings. Archaeologists came to this conclusion based on where the hoards were found within the remains of the residential homes that were excavated. Each jug was placed in a well-constructed pit that sat off of the living room. The pits were deep enough that the opening of the jug was level to the ground, making it easy to access. Archaeologists found coins that were stuck to the rim of the jug, indicating that these coins were placed in the jug after it was situated in its pit. Based on the coins found in the amphorae, archaeologists believe these ancient piggy banks were buried sometime between 280 C.E. and 310 C.E., a tumultuous period in Gallic and Roman history. The Gallic And Roman History Behind The Coins Found In Senon Lino Mocci/INRAPOne of the coin jugs being excavated from its pit in Senon, France. The coins feature depictions of emperors Victorinus, Tetricus I, and his son Tetricus II. These men once ruled the Gallic Empire, which spanned the regions of modern-day France that were located north of the Roman Empire’s sphere of influence. From 260 to 274 C.E., the Gallic Empire controlled Gaul as well as many of the surrounding provinces not under Roman rule. Then, in 274, the Roman Emperor Aurelian reintegrated these regions back into his empire. These coins weren’t the only Gallic artifacts uncovered during the excavation. Archaeologists found remnants of many Gallic-era wood buildings in Senon, with some areas holding more than one structure per square meter. This shows that even before Roman rule took hold in the area, there was a densely-populated settlement at Senon. Archaeologists also found stone buildings with underfloor heating, basements, and workshops. While it appears that this settlement was flourishing, a fire in the fourth century led to its decline. After the fire seemingly destroyed Senon, an effort was made to re-establish it. However, after yet another fire, the settlement was abandoned for good in the 4th century C.E. It’s believed that the newly-unearthed coins had gone untouched from then until now. After reading about the tens of thousands of Roman coins uncovered in France, see the hoard of Roman gold coins found in Italy that could be worth millions. Then, learn about the hoard of Roman coins found by an illegal metal detectorist who didn’t report the discovery until years later. The post Archaeologists In France Just Found Two Ancient Roman ‘Piggy Banks’ Filled With 40,000 Coins appeared first on All That's Interesting.

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Texan independence was. Significant issue in the 19th century. Here, Fredrick Wolf looks at how it was  impacted by sovereignty and slavery. He also considers the role of the Alamo. The Fall of the Alamo (1903) by Robert Jenkins Onderdonk.“…the institution of slavery is neither an interest to be defended nor an outrage to be denounced, but merely a bygone state of things, through which – as through many another unfortunate conditions of society – the evolution of the human race has carried it; and we can therefore devote ourselves to the investigation of the subject with no prejudice except in favor of historic truth.” –      Professor Justin H. Smith, The Annexation of Texas The poster for the movie, The Alamo (1960), celebrates its history with the line, "The Mission That Became a Fortress…The Fortress That Became A Shrine….” The latter is a concise and accurate summary of the story of the structure, but not necessarily the events involved in what has famously become known as -- the Alamo – in downtown San Antonio, Texas. Some historians believe slavery was the driving issue in the battle at the Alamo, arguing that Mexico’s attempts to end slavery contrasted with the hopes of many white settlers in Texas at the time who moved to the region to farm cotton. Renovations to the Alamo, itself, have recently been stalled due to political issues and discussions over the site’s legacy including the role of slavery in the Texas revolution.”The rebellion in the northern states of Mexico, historically, has been attributed to a response to President Antonio López de Santa Anna repealing Mexico’s Constitution of 1824, abolishing the state governments and issuing autocratic decrees including the suspension of individual property rights.This work takes the position of the aforementioned Professor Smith: It argues neither for nor against the institution of slavery being the premise behind the battle of the Alamo. It merely develops a reasoned structure of the era detailing the events, circumstances and status of slavery in Mexico from the first Texas colonization contracts to the Texas Revolution. The reader may then draw his or her own conclusion regarding slavery being a motivating cause behind the siege of the Alamo and the struggle for Texas’s Independence from Mexico. Settlers in TejasWhen Moses Austin secured his first empresario contract to transport settlers to territory now known as Texas, the territory was the possession of Spain, and slavery was legal under Spanish law. The initial contract of 1821 made with the Spanish government made it clear that property rights of future colonists would be protected, including their right to hold slaves.Agustín de Iturbide, a Mexican caudillo (military chieftain), became the leader of the conservative faction in the Mexican independence movement against Spain; as Agustín I, he briefly became the first emperor  of Mexico. The Iturbide government, of newly independent Mexico, reaffirmed in 1823 Moses Austin’s contract, with son, Stephen F. Austin as his lawful heir. This action secured the legal acquiescence of the Mexican national government to permit colonists and their slaves into the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas (Coahuila and Texas). Issue of SlaveryThe new Mexican Constitution of 1824 was vague on the issue of slavery, leaving the question to the individual states to determine how slavery would be dealt with. The law declared, generally, that Mexico would prohibit the importation of slaves, reflecting Mexico’s shift away from Spanish policies after gaining independence from Spain. But because the document left the issue of slavery to the states to decide, it was interpreted by Mexican legal authorities as only prohibiting the importation of slaves for resale. As a result, colonists in Texas, as well as native Mexican planters in southern Mexico, continued to import slaves for their own domestic use with the federal government making no effort to contravene such activity. Coahuila y Tejas The state of Coahuila y Tejas, officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila y Tejas, was one of the constituent states of the newly established United Mexican States under its 1824 Constitution. The newly adopted state constitution of the state of Coahuila y Tejas allowed in 1827 for the importation of slaves from the U.S. for a period not to exceed six months after the document’s ratification. In September of that year, slaves could no longer be brought into Texas.In May of 1828, the Congress of Coahuila y Tejas passed a law which made contracts of indentured servitude initiated in foreign countries valid within the state. This provided a means through which slaves could be brought into Texas by making them indentured servants for life. It should be noted that the distaste for slavery of many Mexican citizens and politicians was not necessarily due to a principled stand against the idea of slavery per se. It was, rather, the hereditary nature of slavery which was abhorrent to them. This law merely brought black servitude in Texas in line with the already existing form of servitude – the Mexican norm of debt peonage. Slavery in MexicoA legislative attempt to proscribe slavery within the country failed in the Mexican Congress in 1829. President Vicente Guerrero, second President of Mexico, and born of parents of African Mexican and Indian descent was granted sweeping powers to thwart Spain’s attempt to retake the country. Jose Maria Tornel, the equivalent of the U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives, influenced President Guerrero to use his newly granted emergency powers to abolish slavery in Mexico. But a little over two months later, the Governor of Coahuila y Tejas, Jose Maria Viesca, convinced the president to exempt Texas from the proscription. To be fair, it should be noted that even if the ban had taken effect in Texas, it would not have freed those already held under indentured servitude contracts.Yet, at the time, events were changing rapidly in Mexico. In 1831, roughly eighteen months after Guerrero issued his decree banning slavery, it was annulled by the National Congress, along with most of the short-termed, late president’s emergency decrees. Slavery – involuntary servitude -- was once again the law of the land in all of Mexico. And it remained so until 1837, when the National Congress acted again, this time passing an emancipation bill – banning slavery -- nearly a year after Texas in 1836 had won its independence. Debt PeonageA few months after the National Congress had annulled Guerrero’s ban on slavery the state legislature of Coahuila y Tejas acted to limit indentured servitude contracts to ten years. But this did little to benefit those living under existing contracts; they still accumulated debt for food, clothing, housing, and medical care. The debt accrued such that it could never be satisfied and those under the contracts remained in debt to the holders of the contract – essentially -- in perpetuity.This circumstance converted those under contract into debt peons at the end of their indenture terms. In other words, they were required to remain in service to the holders of the contract until those debts were paid, an eventuation nearly impossible. This was the system of servitude that was practiced throughout Mexico before and after Texas won its independence. It was not atypical for wealthy Mexican landowners to have thousands of debt peons in their service. And their treatment was much the same as slaves on American plantations. It should also be noted that the children of debt peons also accrued debts for their care while they were minors, making peonage functionally hereditary.Such was the state of African bondage in Texas until independence was declared in 1836. The Texas Declaration of Independence, which lists all grievances set before the Mexican government, fails to mention slavery as a basis for redress.Did Santa Anna march north to free the slaves, as one U.T. history professor has recently said? Or, was his intention to put down Federalist resistance in the northern Mexican states, of which Coahuila y Tejas was but one?When Texas settlers rebelled in 1835, Santa Anna was quick to organize an expedition against them in defense of centralism. Texan colonists wanted to uphold federalism, a system that allowed for state sovereignty – freedom of choice. Santa Anna and several other Mexican politicians at the time advocated that a centralist government would better serve to unify their nation, after years of instability under federalism. A centralized authority, of course, could also sustain national privileges for the church and military, two special-interest groups that supported Santa Anna’s government.As a parting remark, one point should be admitted into this commentary. The majority of Texas slaveholders were members of the Peace Party, an organization which lobbied against independence, at least until Mexican President Santa Anna made clear his intention to subdue them, by any means necessary, along with those of his perceived adversary -- the War Party. The site has been offering a wide variety of high-quality, free history content since 2012. If you’d like to say ‘thank you’ and help us with site running costs, please consider donating here.  ReferencesCosteloe, Michael. The Central Republic in Mexico, 1835-1846: Hombres de Bien in the Age of Santa Anna. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.Fowler, Will. “Santa Anna and His Legacy.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia, Latin American History. New York, NY: Oxford University Press USA, 2015.Fowler, Will. Santa Anna of Mexico. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2007.Torget, Andrew J. Seeds of Empire: Cotton, Slavery, and the Transformation of the Texas Borderlands, 1800-1850. University of North Carolina Press, 2015.Smith, Justin H. The Annexation of Texas. New York, NY: The Baker and Taylor Co., 1911.Burrough, B. and Stanford, J. (2021, June 10). The Myth of Alamo Gets the History All Wrong. The Washington Post. The myth of Alamo gets the history all wrong - The Washington PostBurrough, B. and Stanford, J. (2021, June 10). We’ve Been Telling the Alamo Story Wrong for Nearly 200 Years. Now It’s Time to Correct the Record. Time.com. It's Time to Correct the Myths About the Battle of Alamo | TIMEHanna, J. (2025, October 24). The CEO of the Alamo's historic site has resigned after a top Texas Republican criticized her. Associated Press. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ceo-alamos-historic-resigned-top-221630063.htmlWebner, R. (2021, May 10). Alamo renovation gets stuck over arguments about slavery. The Texas Tribune. Alamo renovation gets stuck over arguments about slavery - The Texas TribuneMoses Austin’s Spanish Empresario Contract. Texapedia.info. https://texapedia.info/1821-empresario-contract/Barker, E. (2020, July 30). The History of Colonization in Texas: From Moses Austin to the National Colonization Law. Texas State Historical Association. Mexican Colonization LawsMcKay, S. (1994, December 1). The Constitution of 1824: Coahuila and Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Constitution of Coahuila and TexasCoahuila y Tejas: The Mexican State Before Texas Independence. Texapedia.info. Coahuila y Tejas: The Mexican State Before Texas IndependenceJoel. (2025, February 6). Rise of Debt Peonage in Mexico. Far Outliers. Rise of Debt Peonage in Mexico | Far OutliersAnna, T. (Fall 2002). The Legacy of Vicente Guerrero, Mexico's First Black Indian President (review). Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History. Johns Hopkins University Press. Project MUSE - The Legacy of Vicente Guerrero, Mexico's First Black Indian President (review)Blake, R. (2020, August 2). The Guerrero Decree: Abolishing Slavery in Mexico. Texas State Historical Association. Guerrero DecreeMexico frees slaves. (2025, September 15). Texas State Historical Association. Texas History Lives Here | Texas State Historical AssociationIndentured servitude. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indentured_servitudeBarker, E. Pohl, J. (2025, May 21). The Texas Revolution: Key Events and Impact. Texas State Historical Association. Texas RevolutionSanta Anna and the Texas Revolution. Santa Anna's Role in the Texas RevolutionDyreson, J. (1995, December 1). The Peace Party in Texas: A Historical Overview. Texas State Historical Association. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/peace-party

The Department of Labor on Wednesday issued a request for information (RFI) seeking feedback from stakeholders and faith organizations on barriers that have limited their participation in Labor-funded programs.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., is taking heat following reports that she spent more than $3,000 in campaign funds to attend a Kid Rock-hosted event and a rodeo in Texas, an apparent violation of federal election law.

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky on Wednesday introduced a bill that would pull the United States out of the NATO alliance.Massie's move lands at a moment when President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned NATO members to meet higher defense-spending targets and has questioned...