September 2023's Most Intriguing Archaeological Discoveries in Italy
During routine municipal work in Verona's Piazza Bra, a Roman domus floor with polychrome stone and marble inlay was uncovered, dating to the imperial era. The site is under Soprintendenza Archeologica supervision; excavations will be backfilled after documentation. At Tusculum, a headless, life-sized female statue—possibly a nymph, muse, or maenad—was found during the Tuscolo Eterna Bellezz@ project led by the Escuela Española de Historia y Arqueología en Roma. In Palermo, an Egyptian mummy head from the Greco-Roman period was identified in the Museo Salinas storerooms by anthropologist Dario Piombino-Mascali of Vilnius University; it will feature in a new exhibition. At Muro Leccese, a Messapic water-cult temple yielded silver coins (5th–4th century BCE), relief-decorated slabs, and jugs, excavated under Francesco Meo. In Pompeii, electoral inscriptions were found inside a house's lararium—unusually, as such texts typically appeared on exterior walls—urging votes for Aulus Rustius Verus, a candidate for aedile who later became duumvir with Julius Polybius.
Key facts
- Roman domus floor found in Verona's Piazza Bra during electrical upgrades.
- Floor features cement with polychrome stone and marble inlay, likely imperial era.
- Excavation supervised by Soprintendenza Archeologica del Comune; site to be backfilled.
- Headless female statue discovered at Tusculum under Tuscolo Eterna Bellezz@ project.
- Statue is life-sized, full-round, with fine drapery; identity unclear (nymph, muse, or maenad).
- Egyptian mummy head found in Museo Salinas storerooms, Palermo.
- Mummy head identified by Dario Piombino-Mascali of Vilnius University as Greco-Roman period.
- Mummy head to be part of new museum exhibition.
- Messapic water-cult temple excavated at Muro Leccese by Francesco Meo.
- Temple yielded silver coins (5th–4th century BCE), relief slabs, and jugs.
- Electoral inscriptions found inside a Pompeii house's lararium.
- Inscriptions urge vote for Aulus Rustius Verus, candidate for aedile.
- Verus later became duumvir with Julius Polybius in the 70s CE.
- Unusual indoor location suggests campaign events or dinners.
Entities
Institutions
- Soprintendenza Archeologica del Comune
- Escuela Española de Historia y Arqueología en Roma
- Museo Salinas
- Vilnius University
- Stilearte.com
Locations
- Verona
- Italy
- Piazza Bra
- Tusculum
- Castelli Romani
- Rome
- Palermo
- Sicily
- Muro Leccese
- Lecce
- Apulia
- Salento
- Pompeii
- Via dell'Abbondanza