A Mile-Long Ancient Roman Engineering Marvel Has Suddenly Surfaced from Beneath This Famous Waterway

• Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a mile-long ancient Roman bridge built in the 4th century AD, which has recently surfaced from beneath the Danube River. The bridge, known as Constantine’s Bridge, was constructed under Emperor Constantine I and was the longest Roman bridge in the world at the time. It was based on an earlier bridge designed by Apollodorus of Damascus and was used to connect modern-day Romania with parts of Bulgaria. The bridge’s foundations were uncovered in shallow waters near the village of Gigen, Bulgaria, and its reappearance is considered a rare and significant event.

• The bridge’s construction was accompanied by a unique gold medallion, which was minted in Rome and is believed to have been used to memorialize its completion and inauguration. The medallion is one of only two surviving copies, and its discovery highlights the bridge’s historical importance. The bridge is thought to have been destroyed within a few decades of its construction, likely by A.D. 367. The recent discovery offers researchers an opportunity to study this ancient engineering marvel and understand its role in Roman infrastructure.

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