Trieste, new traces of ancient Tergeste emerge during water works

During the works conducted by AcegasApsAmga S.p.A. for the repair of a water mains pipe, new traces of ancient Tergeste have emerged in Piazza della Repubblica, at Via Mazzini.

The Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio FVG in agreement with AcegasApsAmga S.p.A. coordinated the necessary archaeological verifications for which the archaeological firm Archeotest S.r.L. was commissioned to carry out the excavation control and the appropriate stratigraphic investigations. The work conducted in close synergy made it possible to carry out afocused archaeological investigation, without affecting the technical time required for the work of securing and restoring the area.

The investigations revealed the presence of archaeological structures and materials, including fragments of painted plaster, amphorae, sealed pottery and bricks, which can be preliminarily dated to the 4th-5th century AD.

The identified level of Late Antique or later frequentation covers a layer of destruction with traces of the previous Roman-era occupation. These findings can be related to what emerged in the early twentieth century between St. Catherine Street and the “Palace of the R.A.S.”: traces of a sandstone paved road, remains of a cult building dedicated to the Bona Dea, and dwellings with mosaic and earthenware floors, all referable to the Roman period.

The archaeological verifications carried out in these days in Via Mazzini, albeit in a construction site that is difficult to manage and in a stratigraphic context that has been heavily reworked by previous works for the construction of utility networks and other infrastructures, therefore allow us to add an important piece in the understanding ofancient Tergeste. In fact, the data that have emerged confirm the presence of a still well-preserved archaeological stratigraphy pertinent to the settlement of the Roman, Late Antique and Medieval periods in areas where following the urbanization works of the modern city, which followed on from the nineteenth century, all traces of the past were thought to have been lost.

The collaboration between the different entities confirms how it is possible to demonstrate in a field, albeit a very complex one, such as urban archaeology, attention and respect for the territory and its history hidden underground, without going to the detriment of the efficiency and timing of interventions, even emergency ones, providing a very important opportunity for the reconstruction of the past.

In fact, the cooperative relationship between the Superintendence and AcegasApsAmga has been active for a long time and in recent years has already allowed the unveiling of numerous archaeological findings in the historic center of Trieste, as was the case with the excavations in San Michele Street or in Castle Street in 2021.

Trieste, new traces of ancient Tergeste emerge during water works

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