Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford. - Cindy Crawford

July 30, 2003 7:21 AM

Roman Cosmetics Found at Temple Dig: Stunningly well preservered, the cream still bears the fingerprints of whoever used it last, almost 2,000 years ago.
posted by Irontom (14 comments total)

There is more on the ancient history of cosmetics in this paper, which includes a nice bibliography.
posted by Irontom at 7:21 AM on July 30, 2003

Fine, the cream is well-preserved. But what about the woman who used it? How else will I know whether to buy the stuff?
posted by stonerose at 7:23 AM on July 30, 2003

The site has also yielded the earliest reference to Londinium (Roman name for London) as well as other, more mundane artifacts like leather shoes and a wooden writing tablet.
posted by Irontom at 7:26 AM on July 30, 2003

"... the cream still bears the fingerprints of whoever used it last, almost 2,000 years ago."

Elizabeth Taylor
posted by zanpo at 7:32 AM on July 30, 2003

Stop evading the question, Irontom. Fess up: you're a shill for the cosmetics company, aren't you? PepsiBlue! PepsiBlue!

(Seriously, though, this was a nice 'find' - thanks.)

On preview: LOL @ zanpo :-)
posted by stonerose at 7:34 AM on July 30, 2003

The truly amazing part was that the pink Cadillac still turned over
posted by ElvisJesus at 7:55 AM on July 30, 2003

The Middle Ages were truly dark. It's like 1000 wasted years.
posted by the fire you left me at 8:22 AM on July 30, 2003

It will disappear under concrete this Summer when construction of a shopping and housing complex starts.
Don't know if this is good or bad. Bad you're loosing, the earliest reference to Londinium ; good you're re-developing the land. If you kept everything preserved there would be nothing new to see, but cosmetic finger prints.
posted by thomcatspike at 8:26 AM on July 30, 2003

Primarily red in natural tonal simplicity.
posted by PigAlien at 8:57 AM on July 30, 2003

what about the woman who used it?

It could be Cleopatras Smooth Lube, standard issue for Roman soldiers.
posted by stbalbach at 9:24 AM on July 30, 2003

I wonder how many other archaelogical wonders are still buried under the parking lots of modern strip malls? This seems such a shame.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:48 AM on July 30, 2003

what about the woman who used it?
posted by ElvisJesus at 10:55 AM on July 30, 2003

The Middle Ages were truly dark.

That's 'cause it was Knight Time!

(ducks, runs like hell)
posted by alumshubby at 11:17 AM on July 30, 2003

Who said it was a woman? Could have been that well-known old gay, George W Bush?
posted by Joeforking at 12:00 PM on July 30, 2003