Ancient Sanctuary Unearthed Beneath Italian Highway Project

A routine highway construction project in Ponso has exposed a sprawling fifth-century BC sanctuary, forcing a halt to roadwork 45 miles southwest of Venice. Excavations by the Italian Superintendency of Archaeology have revealed structural foundations and rare inscriptions that predate the Roman era in northeastern Italy.

The discovery emerged when workers from Veneto Strade S.p.A. were clearing the site for a new link between Borgo Veneto and Carceri. Initial inspections for wartime ordnance quickly shifted to a major archaeological recovery effort. Researchers identified a peripteral temple characterized by its classic perimeter of columns, alongside stone blocks and votive inscriptions.

While some findings feature Latin, many inscriptions use the ancient Venetic script, indicating a cultural transition before Roman influence took hold. Excavators noted that later inhabitants recycled these sacred stones into paved flooring around the first century AD. Despite evidence that a branch of the Adige River once flooded the area, the site remained in active use for centuries, evolving rather than being abandoned. Experts continue to analyze these remains to determine how the sanctuary maintained its religious significance through the shift from the pre-Roman period to the Roman era.