Paleo-Christian complex with polychrome mosaics resurfaces in Oderzo

Archaeological investigations coordinated by the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the provinces of Padua, Treviso and Belluno have brought to light in Oderzo, in the area of the former fish market, a vast paleo-Christian complex that includes polychrome mosaics, monumental masonry and burials. The report currently comes from a single source (Artribune); no independent confirmation is available.

The mosaics cover almost the entire flooring of the excavation area, which measures fifteen by thirty metres. The decorative motifs include refined designs, among them interlocking octagons and double knots executed in red and blue, according to the description provided by the source.

Alongside the main building, other structures have emerged, including a production area linked to the basilica’s construction site: in this section, mosaic tesserae, worked marble and a small kiln were found, elements indicating the presence of a craft activity directly tied to the construction of the place of worship.

The available sources do not specify a precise dating for the complex nor the number of burials identified, elements that remain to be clarified in subsequent communications from the Soprintendenza. It also remains to be established, on the basis of the material available, whether the excavation will continue with new campaigns or whether the investigation phase is considered concluded with this discovery.

The find nonetheless adds to the archaeological heritage of the Veneto town, already known for stratifications spanning from the Roman era to the early Middle Ages. The combination of mosaics, monumental masonry, burials and a production area linked to the basilica’s construction site constitutes, based on the information currently available, a complex of significance for the study of paleo-Christian religious building in eastern Veneto. Further details on the chronology and extent of the excavation will depend on official communications from the Soprintendenza, not yet fully published at the time of this analysis.