Construction workers on an Italian highway made an unexpected find when they unearthed the remains of an ancient sanctuary, leading to an archaeological investigation. The discovery was officially announced by the Italian Superintendent of Archeology, Fine Arts, and Landscapes on May 19.
This site is located in Ponso, a town roughly 72 kilometers southwest of Venice. The workers, employed by Veneto Strade SpA, were in the process of building a new road when they came across artifacts dating back to the 5th century BC, while removing wartime weapons.
As the excavation progressed, archaeologists revealed a large rectangular substructure that resembles a temple, complete with what seem to be columns surrounding it. Some inscriptions were identified in Latin, but many were in Veneto—an ancient language spoken in northeastern Italy prior to Roman influence.
According to officials, numerous carved stones appear to have been repurposed in a paved floor structure, the exact use of which remains unclear. Some stones, however, still occupy their original positions. The construction of this pavement likely dates to the first century AD, as noted in a translated statement.
“As excavations continued, new large rectangular substructures emerged that could be identified as temples.”
Photographs from the site feature ancient Venetian inscriptions, along with fragments of columns and stone blocks believed to belong to the temple complex. Some of these inscriptions suggest they served a religious purpose.
It’s worth noting that the area was likely flooded in ancient times by a tributary of the Adige River. Initial findings indicate that the site experienced a “continued use and transformation over time, rather than abandonment.” It was suggested that it maintained some significance during the Roman era, albeit expressed in a different cultural context.
The team is diligently investigating this area, adding to a growing list of recent archaeological finds throughout Italy. Just last year, in Trento, archaeologists uncovered a massive Iron Age necropolis with burials dating back around 3,000 years. Earlier this year, a separate discovery revealed an ancient Roman city near the historic Via Appia, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
