Those who were interested in the excavations of Rome, Ostia Antica and other ancient cities in modern Italy, have the opinion that this territory was under multi-meter layers of soil not because of their antiquity and the accumulation of allegedly cultural layers. There is a conviction that this happened due to some kind of cataclysm.
Clay streams emerging from the bowels, volcanic eruptions (there are even supervolcanoes in Italy), etc. - all this as possible reasons for the disappearance of the ancient cities of the Etruscans and the Roman Empire.
Archaeological research is sometimes carried out using modern methods, using georadars and lidars. Based on the data obtained, models of what is underground are obtained.
50 km from Rome there is a place called New Faleria. Several buildings have been excavated there, and is there anything else in the vicinity - until 2019. was not known. Rather, historians knew that the ancient Etruscan city was here and occupied an area of 30 hectares. Site plan:
The researchers installed the GPR on a trolley and rode around the area on an ATV:
We processed the results of the researchers and got the following picture:
Promotional video:
Cramped urban development. It is possible that under the fields and under the thickets of trees the city continues and its area is not 30 hectares, but much more.
I propose to see a few photos of those buildings in Faleria that have survived, were dug up:
Judging by the absence of plaque and the different color of the stone blocks, the lower part was recently underground. This is what was unearthed. And if someday archaeologists excavate this city completely - the world may learn a little more about the Etruscans and about the real reasons for the disappearance of this pre-Roman culture and civilization.
Excavations in Rome in the 30s of the 20th century.
Excavations at Ostia Antica in the early 20th century.
Excavation at Ostia Antica.
Photos for analogy.