Construction Workers Discover Ancient Sanctuary in Italy

Construction crews in Italy uncovered the remains of an ancient sanctuary while working on a highway project in Ponso, located approximately 45 miles southwest of Venice. The discovery was announced by the Italian Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape on May 19. The site, dating back to the fifth century B.C., was found during wartime ordnance clearance operations by construction workers from Veneto Strade S.p.A. Archaeologists have identified large rectangular foundation structures believed to be temples, with one structure showing characteristics of a peripteral temple surrounded by columns. Inscriptions found at the site include both Latin and Venetic script, an ancient language used by the Veneti people before Roman rule. Some stones appear to have been reused in a flooring structure, which may have been constructed during the 1st century A.D. Early findings suggest that the site maintained its significance during Roman times, albeit in different cultural forms. Researchers are continuing to investigate the area, which adds to a series of archaeological discoveries across Italy in recent years.