During Acea’s excavation works on via Mura dei Francesi a Ciampinowhile we were trying to solve the usual problems of water pipes, in recent days something much more precious came to light: a mosaic from the Roman era. Well yes, while the goal was to fix some pipes, the story emerged! The Castelli Romani area, already famous for its archaeological finds, has been enriched with new evidence of the past.
This mosaic, characterized by geometric motifs and contrasting colours, represents further evidence of the Roman presence in the Castelli Romani area. The section found, in fact, is located in an area that, in the past, was a crossroads of trade and commercea vital area for communications between Rome and its surroundings.
As local newspapers report, the mosaic has been temporarily covered while waiting for the Archaeological Superintendence which will be called to carefully examine the discovery to provide further details on its historical and artistic importance, but also to decide on the methods of conservation and continuation of the work.
The historical relevance of the Ciampino area
The find, located near via Veniceha stopped the work and immediately activated the competent authorities. Archaeologists are already at work, and it is not excluded that there are other treasures hidden right under our feet, ready to tell stories of patrician villas, agricultural settlements and ancient roads beaten by the Romans.
Ciampino, despite its modern vocation linked toairport and infrastructures, hides beneath its streets a glorious past that continues to re-emerge, a bit like its inhabitants who, between one pipeline and another, find themselves spectators of a history that doesn’t seem to want to stop surfacing.
It’s not the first time that Via Mura dei Francesi has offered such surprises. Already in the past, finds have been discovered which have demonstrated the importance of this strategic area, especially in Roman times, when the area was a key point for the control of the connecting routes to the capital. A history that is renewed, therefore, between modern excavations and ancient hidden treasures.
