Archaeologists make 2,000-year-old discovery in well on the outskirts of Rome (2024)

The ministry released photos of the dig, showing a worker being lowered into the well. (Image: Italy's Ministry of Culture)

Archaeologists have discovered a trove of ancient artefacts buried deep in a well on the outskirts of Rome for almost 2,000 years.

The roughly 10-foot-deep well in the ancient Roman city of Ostia Antica was being excavated as part of a restoration project when the priceless objects were discovered.

"Ostia Antica is a marvel," said Italy’s Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano. "It represents one of the most important archaeological sites in our nation, within which there are great values.

"And, above all, there is a great history, the history of Ancient Rome," he added.

The site of the ancient city is around a 45-minute train ride from the Italian capital.

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The pieces uncovered during the excavation are thought to be around 1,800 years old. (Image: Italy's Ministry of Culture)

The ministry released photos of the dig, showing a worker being lowered into the well. Inside it, found dozens of artefacts thought to be around 1,800 years old hitherto hidden in mud.

Many of the pieces were well-preserved due to them being encased in oxygen-poor mud, officials said.

Among the objects found were ceramics, lamps, as well as fragments of glass containers and marble.

Burnt animal bones were also uncovered, thought to point to some form of ritual or sacrifice.

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The objects were encased in oxygen-poor mud which helped preserve them (Image: Italy's Ministry of Culture)

Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano said it represents 'one of the most important archaeological sites in our nation'. (Image: Italy's Ministry of Culture)

One of the most notable pieces they found was a carved wooden object in the shape of a funnel or chalice, but its function is not yet known, Fox News Digital reports.

The well is close to a temple complex built around 300 B.C., which is dominated by the Temple of Hercules as well as other notable cult buildings.

It comes just days after thediscovery of an incredible new set of drawings in Pompeii, which has shed further insight into life in the Roman city ahead of theeruption of Mount Vesuvius.

The charcoal graffiti discovered on the walls of a courtyard appears to show children as young as five would regularly watchgladiator battles– and would recount their feats with wall drawings.

The paintings, believed to be around 2,000 years old, show men carrying spears and shields fighting each other as well as animals.

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