Roman Milestones and Altar Unearthed in Brescia Street Works

On January 12, 2021, while conducting sewer replacement on Via Milano in Brescia, archaeologists discovered four inscribed stone monuments from the Roman era: two milestones measuring 1.60 m and 1.80 m, a 2.50 m column, and a complete altar. This important discovery indicates that the contemporary Via Milano aligns with a significant Roman thoroughfare. The artifacts, likely crafted from Botticino stone, feature inscriptions, which is quite uncommon. The milestones denote a distance of two miles from the Roman forum. The finds are currently under examination by the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio, headed by archaeologist Serena Solano. Field archaeologist Francesco Tiboni uncovered the artifacts during monitoring due to the area's archaeological significance, prompting the Soprintendenza to request an expansion of the excavation for further study.