As the land of Aquileia – overlooking the sea, at the mouth of the Torre and Natisone rivers – slowly opens up beneath the feet of explorers, layers of time are revealed that speak of power, trade and crossroads of civilizations. It is here that the Department of Cultures and Civilizations of the University of Verona, in the season just ended, completed an unprecedented excavation campaign, approved by the Ministry of Culture and supported by the Aquileia Foundation. In three months, twenty young scholars have penetrated previously unexplored territory, returning to the Roman city a heritage that still seemed hidden. Among the most surprising discoveries are three gold coins – belonging to the emperors Valens, Magnus Maximus and Arcadius – found under the floor of a portico in the market area. Imperial gifts? Or maybe a little treasure hidden in the anguish of hard times? The yellow metal attracts attention, but it is the history that enchants: three faces of emperors who, centuries ago, witnessed the events of an empire that still whispered with power. In addition to this emblematic find, the excavations revealed a complex system of amphorae and warehouses linked to the ancient river port of Aquileia, suggesting that the city’s trading heart was much larger than its visible surface would suggest. The channels of exchange, the routes that from here reached the heart of the Adriatic and the Danube world, come back to life thanks to these emergencies: witnesses of an emporia that entered into dialogue with cultures, goods and peoples. An equally important aspect was the opening of the excavations to the public: every day, students, visitors and the curious could witness ‘live’ the resurfacing of the memory of a city that still tells about itself, layer after layer. A UNESCO city that does not remain silent and shows history live.
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