A sinkhole unexpectedly opened up in front of the Pantheon in Rome last month, revealing imperial paving stones that were laid over a millennia ago, news sources report.
The sinkhole , located in the Piazza della Rotonda, is almost 10 square feet (1 square meter) wide and just over 8 feet (2.5 m) deep.
Inside the hole, archaeologists found seven ancient slabs made of travertine, a type of sedimentary rock.
Luckily, no one was hurt when the sinkhole collapsed on the afternoon of April 27, because the normally crowded piazza was empty due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Sinkholes like this one, however, are becoming an increasingly common problem in Rome.
Ancient human-made cavities, including those from quarrying, tunneling and constructing catacombs, have made the ground unstable, especially after heavy rainfall.
Until these upgrades are made, sinkholes may continue to reveal ancient architecture and artifacts, such as these paving stones. »