“At Negrar, an archaeological treasure under the vines”. In a very enthusiastic message, the municipality of Negrar di Valpolicella (north of Verona, Italy) published on Tuesday on social networks a press release revealing an archaeological discovery: the floor of a Roman villa buried under vines.
In the photos accompanying the message, you can see between two mounds of earth a mosaic in excellent condition, and the foundations of a rich house. According to the Italian daily Corriere della sera, these are the remains of a Roman villa from the 3rd century AD. According to its local edition Corriere del Veneto, the mosaic is said to date from the 1st century AD.
Archaeologists have been looking for it for decades, explains the municipality, traces of this dwelling having been discovered at the beginning of the XXth century, according to the daily The Arena. Some research has succeeded over the century, without the villa being unearthed. Excavations had resumed about a year ago.
Currently, the researchers’ objective is in particular to identify “the exact location of the old building”, explains the municipality. The results “will not come any time soon and significant resources will be necessary”, to carry out the project notes the municipality. The municipality ensures that it will collaborate to the maximum in this research.
When these are finished, if the various actors (land owners and local authorities) agree, they will put in place “the most appropriate means to make this archaeological treasure always hidden under our feet available and accessible” to the population.
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