Sinkhole Opens Up In Front Of The Pantheon, Setting Up Historical Discoveries Of Ancient Roman Paving Stones
Alessandro Serrano/AGF/Universal Images Group/Getty ImagesThe sinkhole in front of the Pantheon revealed artifacts that had remained hidden for some 2,000 years.
When a sinkhole opened up in front of the Pantheon in April, Italian engineers were stunned to uncover an exciting historical discovery: the original Roman paving stones beneath. Laid around the time of the historic temple’s original construction, they date to between 27 and 25 B.C. — and haven’t been seen in nearly 2,000 years.
As Rome’s special superintendent Daniela Porro explained, these stones were designed by Emperor Augustus’ friend Marcus Agrippa. The original Pantheon was constructed in the south side of the city, and situated in the Piazza della Rotonda.
The 10-foot-wide and eight-foot-deep sinkhole revealed its original paving.
Archaeologists discovered seven ancient slabs in total at the bottom of this newfound cavern. They were made of travertine, a type of sedimentary rock. While the Pantheon itself, which is thought to have been a temple during the age of Ancient Rome, was rebuilt several times, these stones were originals.
This historical discovery could have caused injuries or deaths. Thankfully, no one was hurt. The typically bustling piazza was empty due to the coronavirus lockdowns. That means that this piece of history news had no victims.
Experts determined that about 40 of the travertine cobblestones (or sampietrini) gave way and broke when the abyss unexpectedly appeared. Although nobody was injured this time, some worry that the incident may be a sign of things to come.
In January 2020, for instance, an entire apartment building had to be evacuated after the pavement caved in. The Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research noted that sinkholes have, indeed, become an increasingly frequent occurrence in the city.
Wanted in RomeThe piazza’s original paving, dating back 2,000 years, which was found inside the sinkhole.
For most of the last century, Rome saw around 30 sinkholes per year — that number started tripling in 2009. In 2018 there were a record-breaking 175 sinkholes across the city. Geologist Stefania Nisio explained that the most affected area is eastern Rome where ancient materials have begun to give way.
While this may be good for historical discoveries, it’s not as welcome to the present-day Italians who call Rome home.
