Archaeologist and metro workers unearthed a 70-meter fragment of a 2,000-year-old road in Thessaloniki which was the city's main highway, built by the Romans.
The road was uncovered while excavations for new subway was being carried out in the northern port city, which is due to be completed in four years. The road will be put on show permanently once the metro opens in 2016, reported Associated Press.
The excavation site was displayed to the public and the details of the permanent exhibition project were also announced here on Monday. Some of the marble paving stones were carved with children's board game and few others were engraved by horse-drawn carriages.
Remains of tools and lamps, as well as the base of marble columns were discovered from the site. Viki Tzanakouli, an archaeologist working on the project told AP, that the Roman road is about 1,800 years old while remains of an older road built by the ancient Greeks 500 years earlier were found underneath it.
"We have found roads on top of each other, revealing the city's history over the centuries," Tzanakouli told the AP. "The ancient road, and side roads perpendicular to it appear to closely follow modern roads in the city today."
The subway work that started in 2006 provided a rare opportunity for archaeologist to explore under the densely populated city which has also caused years of delay for the project. In 2008, the subway workers discovered 1,000 graves of different shape and sizes out of which some were filled with jewelry, coins and other pieces of art.
Thessaloniki subway project has been delayed by four years because of the excavation work and Greece's financial crisis. Initially 13 stations will operate and later a 10 station extension will be added.
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