Santuario di Ponte on the Naples-Bari Route
"Viaggio nel Sacro" [Trip on Holy Ground]
This sanctuary that dates back to Greek-Roman times, full of votive material, was found in the town of Ponte in the Benevento Province, while work was being done on doubling the Telese-Vitulano section of the new Naples-Bari HS/HC line.
This unique find was the result of extensive prior archaeological work carried out by Italferr's Archaeological Organisational Department, appointed by RFI with Scientific Direction by the Heritage Commissions, in collaboration with the Culture Ministry and the Archaeological Companies involved.
As the railway works progressed, specialist archaeological and technical staff, with high-level technical / managerial skills, were in the field as the dig was carried out, restoring an exclusive treasure to the citizens of the area. This bore testimony to just how worksites for large infrastructural works can provide a window into the past.
On 28 February the finds made were presented during the inauguration of the temporary exhibition entitled “Viaggio nel Sacro” [Trip on Holy Ground], curated by the Archaeological, Fine Arts and Landscape Heritage Commission for the Provinces of Caserta and Benevento, in the Sala Paleontologica at the Benevento Operations Centre. Depictions of deities associated with initiatory rites, statuettes of devoted women and warriors, a terracotta model of a little temple used to collect offerings, anatomic ex voto figures, bronze statues of Hercules, coins, lamps, and ceramics are some of the finds on display, bearing testimony to the extraordinary heritage found in Ponte.
This event was the 1st stage of a more extensive programme, aimed at defining a common strategy for valorising and promoting finds associated with the Naples-Bari route.