24 ancient bronze statues found in Italy thermal baths

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Archaeologists in Italy have unearthed 24 ancient bronze statues at the San Casciano dei Bagni thermal bath site in a discovery described as "exceptional" by Italy's culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano.

The perfectly intact statues emerged from the mud and water at the bottom of a large Roman pool in the hilltop town, about 160 km north of Rome, reports Italian news agency ANSA. Dating to between the second century BC and the first century AD, the statues include representations of divinities including Apollo and Hygieia, as well as emperors, matrons and ephebes.

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The statues, five of which are almost one metre high, were discovered alongside thousands of coins, votive offerings and inscriptions in Etruscan and Latin.

Archaeologist Jacopo Tabolli from the University for Foreigners in Siena has led the project for the last three years, with support from Italy's culture ministry and local authorities, and the collaboration of more than 60 experts from around the world.

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The ancient bath complex is believed to have existed from at least the third century BC and remained active until the fifth century AD, Tabolli told ANSA. In Christian times the site was closed down - but not destroyed - and its treasures were immersed in the hot thermal waters of the pools which were sealed with stone.

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Describing it as "a discovery that will rewrite history", Tabolli hailed the trove as "the greatest store of statues from ancient Italy and in any case the only one whose context we can wholly reconstruct." Culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano applauded the "exceptional discovery that confirms once again that Italy is a country full of huge and unique treasures".

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