Roman mosaic floor dating back to ‘3rd century AD’ unearthed in Italian vineyard

The ornate floor was discovered following decades of searches

Surveyors discovered the ornate floor a few metres beneath the ground at the site of an ancient villa near the city of Verona (Commune of Negrar di Valpolicella)

A Roman mosaic floor has been unearthed at a vineyard in northern Italy following several failed digs.

Surveyors discovered the ornate floor a few metres beneath a row of vines at the site of an ancient villa near the city of Verona.

Technicians are still gently excavating the site to see the full extent of the ancient building, which scholars believe dates back to the 3rd century AD.

Archaeologists first found the site in a hilly area above the town of Negrar di Valpolicella in 1992, but it was later abandoned.

A team from the Superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of Verona returned to the site last October, but their search was called off four months later because of the pandemic.

However, the archaeologists were able to resume work this month after Italy began easing its lockdown restrictions.

“After countless decades of failed attempts, part of the floor and foundations of the Roman villa located north of Verona, discovered by scholars a century ago, has finally been brought to light,” authorities from Negrar di Valpolicella wrote on the town’s Facebook page.

“The superintendent will now liaise with the owners of the area and municipality to identify the most appropriate ways of making this archaeological treasure, which has always been hidden beneath our feet, available and accessible.”

Roberto Grison, the mayor of Negrar di Valpolicella, told the local newspaper L’Arena: “We believe a cultural site of this value deserves attention and should be enhanced. For this reason, together with the superintendent and those in charge of agricultural funds, we will find a way to make this treasure enjoyable.”

Italy’s cultural sites are beginning to reopen following weeks of shutdown as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Pompeii – the Roman city buried after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius – officially reopened to the public on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Colosseum will reopen on 1 June, with visitors obliged to buy tickets online, wear face masks and have their temperature checked before entering.