In 2000 a project of historical and archaeological investigations began with the aim of gathering information on the natural and anthropological landscape of the Ca’Tron estate, situated between the territories of Roncade (TV) and Meolo (VE), which in antiquity was part of the eastern agro of the Roman town Altinum. The archaeological investigations concentrated on the route of the via Annia, the consular road which crossed the S-E sector of the estate, forking into two branches in correspondence with a military base which is no longer in use, and on a Roman rural structure. Evidence emerged which suggests that the outer route was the consular Via Annia, following the line of an earlier track (perhaps late Bronze Age), which was then abandoned in the 1st century B.C. due to flooding from the lagoon caused by a rise in the sea level. This would have determined the opening of the inner route on higher ground.
Two large trenches (7 and 8) brought to light the two structures on which the two roads crossed the ancient river named “della Canna”: the earliest bridge, partly uncovered, was made completely of wood, the later bridge which was completely excavated, had a foundation of 560 oak piles (perfectly preserved) and upper part in stone and brick (almost completely robbed).
The excavation of the rural structure (trench 8) identified by the presence of bricks on the surface, revealed a large stall/sheepfold (33 × 10m) datable to the 1st century A.D. Its use was suggested by the plan and chemical soil analyses which revealed the presence of organic phosphorous within the building. The structures had been completely robbed.
The palynological and radiometric analyses, undertaken by Dr. A. Miola, provided information on the territory’s environmental characteristics between the Bronze-Iron Age and the medieval period, documenting the ancient exploitation of the area for agriculture and pasturing (Iron Age-Roman period), the transformation into a lagoon environment (Roman period), the formation of a swamp in the medieval period and the return of fresh water in the post medieval period. (MiBAC)