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Piere d'Isela - a submerged mosaic

Published on 07/01/2021 (last modified 07/01/2021)

 

Amphorae, tableware, a ceramic censer, a bracelet in black glass paste, a coin of the emperor Commodus dated to 180 AD: there are many finds from the Roman age on display in the museum that come from this site, a velma located in the eastern part of the lagoon, not far from the mouth of the Zellina and Aussa rivers (ancient Alsa).

 

 

 

It is a "speaking" name that defines the place: the toponym "Piere" evokes the presence of ruins, traces of ancient structures. And in fact, a quadrangular room paved with a mosaic made of black and white tiles was discovered right here, still partially preserved. The room was delimited by walls built with tiles, of which the foundations remain. Originally it must have been part of a vast Roman building complex, consisting of several rooms, which most likely must be identified with a villa.

The Isela site is located 400 meters from the inner lagoon edge. Originally it had to be connected to the mainland to form a tongue of land extending from the plain into the lagoon. Located at a humpback, it was completely submerged in post-ancient times due to the rising sea level. It therefore represents a "lost land", which today only emerges in the event of a very low tide.