Submerged beneath the Venetian Lagoon lies a secret a Roman road. This is the Roman decumanus. Before Venice rose to power, this area was dry land. Imagine settlements linked by roads, bustling with life centuries before the city’s iconic canals.
The islands of the Venetian Lagoon were first inhabited in the 5th century. Mainland populations sought refuge from invasions. It was on these islands that the Byzantine Duchy of Venice was born.
The discovery of the Roman decumanus suggests a vibrant past. This happened long before Venice became a major power. Archaeological investigations confirm that much of the lagoon was once accessible by land.
The Roman decumanus was an east-west-oriented road. In Roman city planning, this was a key feature. The main decumanus was often called the Decumanus Maximus.
Around 2,000 years ago, the sea level was much lower. The sea level rose about eight feet since Roman times. This change submerged large areas, including the Roman road.
In 2020, sonar scans revealed 12 archaeological structures. These structures aligned for over 3,740 feet. Divers found stones like Roman basoli. These stones were used to pave ancient Roman roads.
Researchers also discovered structures hidden beneath the road. This dock once covered an area larger than a basketball court.
This road linked settlements to the Roman trading center of Altinum. The Roman decumanus likely ran along a sandy ridge. Settlements were situated at intervals along the road.
The city of Venice is many centuries old. There are no records of it in Roman-age writings. Archaeologists believe Venice began as a collection of villages. This was on islands after the Western Roman Empire collapsed.
The study faced challenges. Developments from the 19th and 20th centuries impacted the area. Construction of jetties and new foreshores made investigation difficult.
Scientists hope to learn more about the Roman decumanus. They want to know when it was built and used. Sediment cores may reveal its age.
The Roman decumanus offers a glimpse into Venice’s hidden history. It shows a time when the lagoon was a land of roads and settlements. The lagoon formed from the main sea-level rise after the last glaciation. This is a long-term process. This submerged road remains a testament to the ingenuity of the ancient Romans. It shaped the landscape long before Venice became the city of water we know today.