Rome, remains of an imperial-era bridge found on via Tiburtina

by Redazione , published on 09/08/2022
Categories: Archaeology / Disclaimer
During archaeological investigations for the widening of Via Tiburtina, remains of a Roman bridge were found. At first analysis it is thought to be of imperial age.

In the course of archaeological investigations conducted under the direction of the Special Superintendence of Rome for the Municipality of Rome’s work of widening Via Tiburtina, the remains of a Roman bridge were found.

At first analysis, the remains appear to date from the imperial period; the bridge served the ancient Tiburtina to cross the Fosso di Pratolungo, just before the point where the watercourse flows into the Aniene.

The excavations, conducted under the scientific direction of Fabrizio Santi, by archaeologists Stefania Bavastro and Mara Carcieri of Land Srl, revealed the central portion of the bridge’s round archway made of travertine blocks laid dry, fixed together by rectangular grooves and reinforced externally by a thick layer of cementitious. The archway was found devoid of the central part: the absence of the keystone can be attributed to the rearrangement of the area in the medieval and renaissance ages, when the bridge was partially demolished and closed by two retaining walls more than three meters high. These structures, covered with plaster only on the outside, appear to have supported a functional ramp to cross the Fosso.

“Rome always surprises us with the evidence of its millennial history,” commented Daniela Porro, Rome’s special superintendent. “The newly found bridge shows us the remains of a valuable work of Roman engineering and will allow us to better understand the ancient topography of the area and its development over the centuries. The excavation and preservation of the bridge will not, however, be an obstacle to the ongoing widening of the Via Tiburtina.”

under study is the relationship of this find to another portion of the bridge found this winter at a distance of just 25 meters on the opposite side of the Pratolungo Ditch and from an earlier period (3rd-2nd century B.C.). The historical cartography of this area reports the convergence of several branches of the Fosso and small tributaries, the course of which had varying trends depending on the epochs; moreover, the considerable alluvial layers that came to light in the excavation campaign attest to the fact that the bridge crossed the ditch at a critical point, subject since the Roman age to frequent flooding and swamping. Upon completion of the archaeological investigations, the remains of the bridge, which are located 4 meters below the current street level within an aquifer, will be consolidated and covered so as to ensure its protection and perfect preservation.
Under study is the relationship of this find with another portion of the bridge found this winter at a distance of just 25 meters on the opposite side of the Pratolungo Ditch and from an earlier period (3rd-2nd century B.C.). The historical cartography of this area reports the convergence of several branches of the Fosso and small tributaries, the course of which had varying trends depending on the epochs; moreover, the considerable alluvial layers that came to light in the excavation campaign attest to the fact that the bridge crossed the ditch at a critical point, subject since the Roman age to frequent flooding and swamping. Upon completion of the archaeological investigations, the remains of the bridge, which are located 4 meters below the current street level within an aquifer, will be consolidated and covered so as to ensure its protection and perfect preservation.
Under study is the relationship of this find with another portion of the bridge found this winter at a distance of just 25 meters on the opposite side of the Pratolungo Ditch and from an earlier period (3rd-2nd century B.C.). The historical cartography of this area reports the convergence of several branches of the Fosso and small tributaries, the course of which had varying trends depending on the epochs; moreover, the considerable alluvial layers that came to light in the excavation campaign attest to the fact that the bridge crossed the ditch at a critical point, subject since the Roman age to frequent flooding and swamping. Upon completion of the archaeological investigations, the remains of the bridge, which are located 4 meters below the current street level within an aquifer, will be consolidated and covered so as to ensure its protection and perfect preservation.
Under study is the relationship of this find with another portion of the bridge found this winter at a distance of just 25 meters on the opposite side of the Pratolungo Ditch and from an earlier period (3rd-2nd century B.C.). The historical cartography of this area reports the convergence of several branches of the Fosso and small tributaries, the course of which had varying trends depending on the epochs; moreover, the considerable alluvial layers that came to light in the excavation campaign attest to the fact that the bridge crossed the ditch at a critical point, subject since the Roman age to frequent flooding and swamping. Upon completion of the archaeological investigations, the remains of the bridge, which are located 4 meters below the current street level within an aquifer, will be consolidated and covered so as to ensure its protection and perfect preservation.
The relationship of this find with another portion of the bridge found this winter at a distance of just 25 meters on the opposite side of the Pratolungo Ditch and from an earlier period (3rd-2nd century B.C.) is being studied. The historical cartography of this area reports the convergence of several branches of the Fosso and small tributaries, the course of which had varying trends depending on the epochs; moreover, the considerable alluvial layers that came to light in the excavation campaign attest to the fact that the bridge crossed the ditch at a critical point, subject since the Roman age to frequent flooding and swamping. Upon completion of the archaeological investigations, the remains of the bridge, which are located 4 meters below the current street level within an aquifer, will be consolidated and covered so as to ensure its protection and perfect preservation.
The relationship of this find with another portion of the bridge found this winter at a distance of just 25 meters on the opposite side of the Pratolungo Ditch and from an earlier period (3rd-2nd century B.C.) is being studied. The historical cartography of this area reports the convergence of several branches of the Fosso and small tributaries, the course of which had varying trends depending on the epochs; moreover, the considerable alluvial layers that came to light in the excavation campaign attest to the fact that the bridge crossed the ditch at a critical point, subject since the Roman age to frequent flooding and swamping. Upon completion of the archaeological investigations, the remains of the bridge, which are located 4 meters below the current street level within an aquifer, will be consolidated and covered so as to ensure its protection and perfect preservation.
The relationship of this find with another portion of the bridge found this winter at a distance of just 25 meters on the opposite side of the Pratolungo Ditch and from an earlier period (3rd-2nd century B.C.) is being studied. The historical cartography of this area reports the convergence of several branches of the Fosso and small tributaries, the course of which had varying trends depending on the epochs; moreover, the considerable alluvial layers that came to light in the excavation campaign attest to the fact that the bridge crossed the ditch at a critical point, subject since the Roman age to frequent flooding and swamping. Upon completion of the archaeological investigations, the remains of the bridge, which are located 4 meters below the current street level within an aquifer, will be consolidated and covered so as to ensure its protection and perfect preservation.
The relationship of this find with another portion of the bridge found this winter at a distance of just 25 meters on the opposite side of the Pratolungo Ditch and from an earlier period (3rd-2nd century B.C.) is being studied. The historical cartography of this area reports the convergence of several branches of the Fosso and small tributaries, the course of which had varying trends depending on the epochs; moreover, the considerable alluvial layers that came to light in the excavation campaign attest to the fact that the bridge crossed the ditch at a critical point, subject since the Roman age to frequent flooding and swamping. Upon completion of the archaeological investigations, the remains of the bridge, which are located 4 meters below the current street level within an aquifer, will be consolidated and covered so as to ensure its protection and perfect preservation.

Rome, remains of an imperial-era bridge found on via Tiburtina
Rome, remains of an imperial-era bridge found on via Tiburtina


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