A team of researchers discovered a Roman settlement in the city of Vizzini, Sicily, that had been hidden for 1900 years. This finding reveals evidence of the trade scheme organized by the Sicilians in the early centuries of the Eastern Roman Empire. According to experts, this system was based on long-distance trade routes that connected the interior of the island with the southern coast, where goods were stored for transport, generating significant economic development.
In addition to the main structure, other buildings have been discovered that support the hypothesis about the function of this settlement. The excavation work, led by archaeologist Dr. Johannes Bergemann, was carried out as part of a university project to investigate the life and trade of ancient Sicilians. Through geophysical studies, the buried structures were identified before proceeding with the excavations, thus revealing this important and luxurious Roman settlement.
The discovered Roman villa spans 15 hectares and dates back to the 2nd century AD. During the excavations, a 390 square meter building was found with a floor decorated with mosaics, stucco-covered columns, marble pools, and remnants of luxury ceramics. All these findings suggest that the inhabitants of this settlement led a sophisticated lifestyle between the 2nd and 6th centuries AD, showing a high level of prosperity and cultural development in the Sicily region during that time.
