Aveia, Archaeological site of ancient Vestini settlement in Fossa, Italy.
Aveia is an archaeological site with remains of an ancient Roman settlement located in Fossa, about 10 kilometers southeast of L'Aquila. The excavations have revealed building foundations and artifacts that illustrate how people lived in this region during antiquity.
The settlement was established as a bishopric around 450 AD and served as a religious and administrative center. It was later abandoned during the Lombard invasions that occurred near 500 AD, marking the end of organized settlement in the area.
The church of Santa Maria ad Cryptas contains paintings spanning the 12th to 15th centuries that reflect regional artistic development. Visitors can observe how local artistic traditions evolved during the medieval period.
The site is accessible via the ancient Via Claudia Nova near the modern village of Fossa. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven and there are no paved pathways throughout the excavation area.
A third-century stone inscription discovered in 1902 mentions a stationarius, an official responsible for maintaining public order in the settlement. This find reveals that the Romans had a formal administrative system in place to oversee community safety.
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