The year 2020 has been a lot of things. It’s been mostly stressful, but there were still several silver linings. Take for example the rediscovery of the lost species of elephant shrews! A lot of folks also made headlines around the world for their acts of kindness and compassion this year. And in May, archaeologists found a pristine ancient Roman mosaic floor in a vineyard near Verona, Italy.
Verona, Italy is one of the most romantic cities in the
world. This is where the tragic love story of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and
Juliet took place, after all. But there is more to Verona than just the Romeo
and Juliet landmarks. Verona also holds many ancient Roman artifacts and
structures that have managed to stand the test of time. The Verona Arena, has
been around since 30 A.D.. And it remains to be one of the best-preserved
amphitheaters today. Ancient Roman mosaic floors are not rare finds – in fact,
they’re quite a common find, according to reports – but this particular
discovery is particularly special.
SAP
Archaeologists Find Ancient Roman Mosaic Floor In A Vineyard
A team from the Superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape of Verona had been conducting excavation work in the privately-owned vineyard since October 2019. The team had managed to map out the outlines of a Domus – a house occupied by the upper class back in the ancient times. But they were unsuccessful in recovering anything particularly outstanding. Then, they had to stop their operations when the COVID-19 pandemic happened. The team discovered the ancient Roman mosaic floor week after they resumed their excavation work. They also discovered portions of the villa’s foundations. In a statement, local authorities said:
“The technicians of the Superintendency of Verona, with a targeted coring of the soil, are partially discovering the remains of the artifact still present under a few meters of earth with a specific goal: to identify the exact extent and exact location of the ancient building.”
SAP
“After countless decades of failed attempts, parts of the floor and foundations of the Roman villa located north of Verona, discovered by scholars a century ago, has finally been brought to light.”
We Might See The Archaeological Find On Display Soon
At the moment, the researchers are working hard to uncover as much of the pristine ancient Roman mosaic as possible. They are also collaborating with the vineyard’s owners and local authorities with regards to the showcasing of the archaeological find. Negrar di Valpolicella’s Mayor Roberto Grison told L’Arena (as translated by The Guardian):
“We believe a cultural site of this value deserves attention and should be enhanced. For this reason, together with the superintendent and those in charge of agricultural funds, we will find a way to make this treasure enjoyable.”
SAP
Watch The Archaeological Team At Work
Post a Comment