Unearthing of an Ancient Roman Mosaic Floor

Ancient Roman mosaic floor unearthed beneath vines in Italy

A perfectly preserved ancient Roman mosaic floor has been discovered near the northern Italian city of Verona. Archaeologists were astonished by the find as it came almost a century after the remains of a villa, believed to date to the 3 rd century AD, were unearthed, in a hilly area above the town of Negrar di Valpolicella. After the discovery of the villa in 1922, the site was mostly left abandoned until a team from the Superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of Verona resumed digging last summer. The team returned to the site in October 2019 and again in February 2020 before the excavation was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. One week after work resumed in May 2020, the mosaic was found a few metres beneath a row of vines. The official in charge of archaeology, Verona province, Gianni De Zuccato, said on 29 th May that the mosaic, in bright shades of red, pink, orange, purple and yellow unearthed last week, came from what had been the servants’ quarters and appeared to be “in a good state of conservation”. “After countless decades of failed attempts, part 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,” authorities from Negrar di Valpolicella wrote on the town’s Facebook page. “The superintendent will now liaise with the owners of the area and municipality to identify the most appropriate ways of making this archaeological treasure, which has always been hidden beneath our feet, available and accessible.” Roberto Grison, the mayor of Negrar di Valpolicella, told the local newspaper L’Arena: “We believe a cultural site of this value deserves

The mosaic was found a few metres beneath a row of vines a week after work resumed following the coronavirus lockdown. Photo: Comune di Negrar di Valpolicella

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.” Archaeologists have been doing partial digs to determine the scale of the site and in preparation for the area, hopefully, to be turned into an open-air museum. * * * Sources: The Guardian and The Associated Press (AP)

The official in charge of archaeology, Verona province, Gianni De Zuccato, on the 29 th May 2020, said the mosaic appeared to be “in a good state of conservation”. Photo: AP

A man cleans a well-preserved colorful mosaic floor of an ancient Roman villa that archaeologists have revealed among vineyards near the northern city of Verona, Italy. Photo by: AP