Claterna, 3,000 coins and 50 gems unearthed. Borgonzoni: "We can talk about a Pompeii of the North."

A meeting was held yesterday to present the finds unearthed during the most recent excavations carried out, and still ongoing, by the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the Metropolitan City of Bologna and the provinces of Modena, Reggio Emilia and Ferrara in the archaeological area of Claterna, in Ozzano dell’Emilia (Bologna), and the interventions on the site financed by the Ministry of Culture. Inscriptions, fragments of colored marble, as well as a Quinario, a silver coin of the Roman Republic worth half a denarius dated 97 B.C. found in a corridor of the theater’s cavea (a rare find that confirms the certain dating to the end of the first century B.C. of the theater’s construction) were found. Discoveries from which we deduce that Claterna was much more than a city of passage, but a center of commerce with direct contacts with Rome.

Speaking at the meeting was Lucia Borgonzoni, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Culture, who said, “We are facing the largest unstratified archaeological area in northern Italy. In terms of importance and quantity of finds unearthed so far we can probably speak of a Pompeii of the North. And it is an area, that of the ancient Roman city of Claterna, which is a continuous discovery. After the forum, the streets, domus with polychrome mosaics, thermal facilities, but also three thousand silver and bronze coins, about fifty colored gems with engravings dedicated to various deities and numerous structures including the theater, from the most recent excavations related precisely to the theater have in fact surfaced additional precious materials testifying to the important past of the city and its relationship with Rome, but also and above all to the immense potential that we have reason to believe there is still to be discovered. In fact, research has so far covered only one-tenth of the site, an area of no less than 18 hectares.” “Maximum commitment on the part of the Ministry,” Borgonzoni continued, “to enhance it as it deserves with economic resources and projects that will give the site new life: in addition to continuing with the excavations, with the Superintendence of Bologna-whom I thank for their work-we plan to put in place a series of activities that will involve local realities and institutions, designed to bring the knowledge of this magical place rich in history closer to the younger generation first and foremost and to act as a lure to as many visitors arriving from all over the world. Not least on the table is the idea of returning the theater to its original function as a performance venue.”

The meeting was attended by Bologna Superintendent Francesca Tomba, MiC Regional Secretariat Director for Emilia-Romagna Corrado Azzollini and Ozzano dell’Emilia Mayor Luca Lelli.

“My presence here today to reiterate that on the part of the Ministry,” added Undersecretary Borgonzoni, “there is great attention for the area, which represents for the region and the country a jewel of inestimable value. After allocating in the three-year period 2022-2024 more than 700,000 euros for the theater and mosaic domus, additional funds will be allocated for archaeological excavation, restoration, enhancement and reuse of the Roman theater.”

“There is a very important aspect to consider and that is,” said Bologna Superintendent Francesca Tomba, “that a large part of the area remains undiscovered. We can therefore plan a great phase of knowledge and wide-ranging enhancement of a site that still has so much to tell. An area that is not compromised, given that we are in the middle of the countryside, another aspect to emphasize that characterizes the site.”

Claterna, 3,000 coins and 50 gems unearthed. Borgonzoni: "We can talk about a Pompeii of the North."

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