A ROMAN OSTRIARIUM IN THE VENETIAN LAGOON

Tanks, shells, frescoes, and wooden piles: from the waters of Lio Piccolo, in Cavallino-Treporti, emerges a previously unknown chapter of Roman presence in the Venetian lagoon. This exhibition at the Museum of Natural History of Venice presents the preliminary results of a research project led by Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, which uncovered a rare 1st-century CE ostriarium – a structure used to keep oysters alive before consumption.
An exceptional discovery, unique in Italy and comparable only to one site in the lagoon of Narbonne, France, it sheds new light on the geography and economy of the lagoon during the Roman Empire. Alongside the oyster tank, built of bricks and wood, the excavation revealed traces of a richly decorated building with frescoes, mosaics, and marble – perhaps a luxurious seaside villa like those described by Martial along the shores of Altinum.
Artifacts, images, videos, a 3D model of the underwater site, and documentation of the excavation tell a submerged story of biodiversity, ancient aquaculture techniques, and Roman luxury. Through archaeology, the exhibition offers new insights into the deep and complex relationship between humans and the lagoon environment.