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Ancient Roman Mosaic Floors in Perfect Condition Were Discovered Under a Vineyard

Photo credit: Comune di Negrar di Valpolicella
Photo credit: Comune di Negrar di Valpolicella

From House Beautiful

Archaeologists in Italy found the ultimate buried treasure this week: an ancient Roman mosaic floor beneath a vineyard near Verona. And it's perfectly preserved. The weirdest part? This isn't the first time it's been discovered.

Scholars first uncovered the colorful mosaic more than a hundred years ago, according to a statement released by the Municipality of Negrar di Valpolicella. Following the initial discovery, the villa was eventually reburied and largely forgotten by the general public, The New York Times reports. But after "countless decades of failed attempts," archeologists finally unearthed the gorgeous flooring once more.

"The technicians of the Superintendence of Verona, with a targeted coring of the soil, are partially discovering the remains of the artifact still present under a few meters of earth, with a specific objective: to identify the exact extension and exact location of the ancient building," the statement reads.

Photo credit: Comune di Negrar di Valpolicella
Photo credit: Comune di Negrar di Valpolicella

The Superintendence plans on preserving the mosaic flooring and making it accessible in the future. "Subsequently, the Superintendency will liaise with the owners of the area and with the Municipality to identify the most appropriate ways to make this archaeological treasure always hidden under our feet available and accessible," the statement continues. However, they did point out that it'll take a long and require lots of resources to track the road.

Want to check out another unearthing? This couple found a hot tub under their home office. While it's obviously not a priceless ancient artifact like the Roman flooring, it's still a gorgeous hidden gem with (more recent!) intricate tile mosaic.

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