Researchers from the Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences have discovered an early Christian basilica in L’Aquileia, Italy.
Founded in 181 BC as a Roman military colony, Aquileia had a strategic position at the end of the Amber Road and along the route to the province of Noricum, which is today’s Austria. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998.
Archaeologists carried out in-depth investigations in the area west of L’Aquileia, near Via Annia: these included geophysical measurements and geoarchaeological drilling. The result was the discovery of a 4th century church building, he reports Noi.mdreading .
“This basilica is the first major building newly discovered in decades of intensive archaeological research in Aquileia. The architecture shows obvious parallels with the Eastern Roman Empire, which can be found in Egypt, Turkey and the Balkans.”
It is noted that the basilica probably served not only as a religious edifice, but also as a symbol of the conquest of Upper Italy by Justinian I. The building, facing southeast towards Constantinople and Jerusalem, is seen as a response to the expulsion of the Arian Goths.
About 1500 years ago, the city of Aquileia was one of the most famous cities in Italy. Founded as a military camp in 181 BC, it was strategically located near the coast and along the road leading to the province of Noricum in modern Austria.
