At the time of the Romans mine was a very tiring and demanding job that required particular skills and knowledge regarding the materials to be used and how to work them.

In that time I had many functions because ceramics were the basis of many activities.

for example: this place, where we are now, was often covered with water because there were floods of the Adige. I built the amphorae for drainage and land reclamation.

I had an important role also to help builders in the choice of flooring because I could design and implement them.

The raw materials was taken from the riverbed of the Adige river which offered large quantities of clay.

Mine was an activity that required good buying and selling skills because my materials and objects were required throughout the Po valley. My activity was mainly carried out along the waterways where transport was facilitated. This was a strategic place for my business because in a few square kilometers there were 3 major ports.

The first port was nearby and was where the cemetery is now. The second port was in the mouth of the Adige just outside the Augustan street and the third stood near the cathedral where now there is the Atestino museum.