Archaeologists excavating at the base of the Palatine Hill have discovered a series of inscribed 1st-century AD travertine markers. These stones are believed to delineate the official route of the Lupercalia, the ancient Roman festival of purification and fertility. The inscriptions provide the first physical confirmation of the "sacred path" taken by the Luperci as they ran around the foot of the hill.
The findings include remnants of ritual altars where offerings of salt-cake and milk were prepared. Researchers state that the discovery clarifies the transition of the festival from a pastoral rite to a centralized state celebration during the reign of Augustus. This excavation offers a rare glimpse into the logistical management of one of Rome's most enduring religious spectacles.