ROME, 15 NOVEMBER 2025 – The recent archaeological excavation campaign at the Sanctuary of Portonaccio in Veii, promoted by the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia and Sapienza University of Rome, has produced the first complete mapping of the underground tunnels of the ancient Etruscan city. This marks a decisive step forward in our understanding of the site and stands as a virtuous example of the convergence between archaeology and advanced technologies.
Santuario del Portonaccio a VeioThe most innovative element is the use of the “Magellano” rover, a robotic system equipped with suspensions inspired by NASA’s “rocker-bogie” models. Designed to move through narrow and uneven spaces, Magellano enabled archaeologists to explore galleries, hydraulic channels, cisterns, and wells, transmitting images and data in real time. Just as Martian rovers open windows onto distant worlds, this rover has provided access to a “subterranean landscape” that remained invisible for centuries. It shows how archaeology can benefit from tools originally developed for space exploration, transforming fieldwork into increasingly precise and less invasive operations.
From a historical perspective, mapping the tunnels offers new interpretive possibilities regarding the functioning of the great sanctuary dedicated to Apollo. Known for its sacred pool and the monumentality of its temple, Portonaccio now also reveals the complexity of its hydraulic structures—essential for managing rituals and organizing the urban plateau. Understanding these hidden layers means reconstructing not only the architecture, but also the ways in which the Etruscans shaped sacred space, managed water, and transformed the surrounding landscape.
Luana TonioloThe Museum’s Director, Luana Toniolo, noted that the project was launched «in collaboration with Sapienza University and thanks to the support of the Directorate-General for Museums», emphasizing the crucial role of innovative technologies in the new mapping of the tunnels. The Director-General for Museums, Massimo Osanna, highlighted that returning to investigate Portonaccio «with rigorous excavations and cutting-edge technologies means significantly expanding our knowledge of one of the most important places in Etruria.»
Laura Maria MichettiEqually significant is the contribution of Sapienza University: Laura Maria Michetti described the renewed work at Veii as «an exciting challenge», continuing a long-standing tradition of archaeological study at the university. She also stressed the interdisciplinary nature of the project, carried out with the Department of Information Engineering, Electronics, and Telecommunications under the guidance of Fabrizio Frezza—an approach that unites humanistic and scientific expertise.
This new phase of excavation thus offers a more complete picture of the sanctuary: not only its monumental surface, but also the intricate underground network that supported its ritual and urban life. (@EtruscanTimes)
