Suche
Mein Konto
Fascination of the past: Important excavations in Sicily revealed!
On July 31, 2025, the University of Potsdam discovered valuable Roman artifacts and buildings during excavations in Burriana.
Fascination of the past: Important excavations in Sicily revealed!
July 31, 2025 was the last day of excavations at the Villa Romana de Sant Gregori in Spain, where a group of researchers once again hopes to gain significant insights. The bus takes the archaeologists to the excavation site, where water bottles and work utensils have already been provided. The focus is on an area with numerous large ceramic fragments that are either the remains of a room or were collected through renovations, as museum director José Manuel Melchor-Monserrat explains. Among the finds are Iberian amphorae that were once filled with oil, wine or salted fish.
The excavation group received a visit from the city administration, which included Mayor Jorge Monferrer Daudí. The mayor underlined the great value of such archaeological programs for the region and the history of Burriana. The day's work continued into the afternoon, with the group focusing on gaining a better understanding of the building's structure and examining evidence of a possible direct dock from which goods were transported in ancient times.
Research in Sicily
Parallel to the work in Spain, an important archaeological find was made in Sicily. Researchers at the University of Göttingen uncovered parts of an ancient Roman building that dates back to the 2nd to 4th centuries AD. This find could be part of a larger Roman village with an area of around 15 hectares, according to the research team led by Prof. Dr. Johannes Bergemann from the Archaeological Institute.
The investigations around the town of Vizzini have been ongoing for over two years and use innovative methods, including geophysical surveys. This technology allowed scientists to detect anomalies in the geomagnetic field and create detailed images of the subsurface without having to dig. Other similar buildings were revealed in the vicinity of the excavated remains.
Significance of the finds
The discoveries in Sicily provide valuable insights into the high standard of living of the population at the time. The finds include columns made of round bricks, stucco cladding, remains of fountains with marble basins, a mosaic floor and luxury Roman ceramics (Terra Sigillata). These remains symbolize the social and economic structural changes in antiquity, when Greek cities were replaced by a new Roman settlement system.
In a broader context, at least three buildings with a rectangular floor plan have been discovered in the southernmost area of Italy in recent months. These structures show traces of fire and the remains of a clay floor. Monitoring work on the Catania-Palermo railway line led to these finds, which indicate valuable manufacturing and processing activities in the area. City councilor Elvira Amata emphasized the economic relevance of the area for the Romans. These archaeological investigations are led by Daniela Vullo and Filippo Spagnolo.
The archaeologists in Burriana prepared the found ceramics for transport to the local museum, while the excavation area was cleaned and covered to protect it from the elements and plant growth. The final hours of the excavation were spent in a local restaurant with a traditional “dirt drink” before the group returned after an intensive period of work that included both learning and shared experiences.