Archaeologists begin search for Julius Caesar's Rubicon river

Archaeologists in the Romagna region of Italy have begun excavations to identify the exact location of the Rubicon, the river Julius Caesar famously crossed in 49 BC, signaling the start of a civil war. The project marks the first phase of creating the ‘Parco Archeologico del Rubicone’, an archaeological park dedicated to this historical site.

Funded by approximately 280,000 euros, including support from the Italian Ministry of Culture, the excavations are centered between the towns of Savignano sul Rubicone and Longiano. The initiative is the result of an agreement involving the province of Forlì-Cesena, ten municipalities, the monument authority, and the Emilia-Romagna region.

The work is expected to last about one year, with initial findings to be presented to the public soon. The search aims to resolve long-standing disputes among local villages regarding which specific waterway served as the historical boundary that prompted Caesar to declare, ‘alea iacta est’ (the die is cast).