An ancient sanctuary dating back more than 2,000 years was discovered in Italy during road construction
In Italy, during the construction of a highway, workers stumbled upon the remains of an ancient sanctuary dating back to the 5th century B.C. The unique discovery was made near the town of Pons, located approximately 72 kilometers from Venice. Following the discovery of the artifacts, extensive archaeological excavations began immediately at the site.
This was reported by Fox News.
Construction workers from the company Veneto Strade S.p.A. were working on the construction of a new road between Borgo Veneto and Carcheri when the first traces of an ancient civilization were found during the clearing of the site. Subsequently, archaeologists discovered large rectangular foundation structures, which, according to preliminary conclusions, belonged to a temple complex.
Experts suggest that one of the structures may have been a peripteral temple, that is, a building surrounded by columns on all sides. During the excavations, fragments of columns, stone blocks, and numerous inscriptions were also found, some of which are in Latin, while others are in ancient Venetic script.
Archaeologists note that the Venetic language was used by the Veneti people in northeastern Italy even before the establishment of Roman rule. Some of the inscriptions found are of a votive nature, meaning they were associated with religious rituals and sacrifices.
According to researchers, some of the inscribed stones may have been reused later to create a paved surface, the purpose of which remains unknown. This paving likely dates back to the 1st century CE.
Scientists also believe that in ancient times, the temple complex may have been flooded by one of the tributaries of the Adige River. At the same time, the findings indicate that the area was not abandoned but continued to be used during the Roman period.
The archaeologists’ statement notes: “It appears that this site retained an important function during Roman times, although this was expressed in different forms and within a different cultural framework than in the previous phase.”
Currently, scientists are continuing their research on the ancient complex, and the discovery itself has already become one of the most interesting archaeological finds in Italy in recent times.
