Archaeologists working along the Via Augusta in eastern Spain have unearthed a massive Roman logistics hub identified as a Veterinary Depot for the Cursus Publicus (the Imperial Postal Service). The site includes specialized recovery stables and a 'pharmacy' wing containing dozens of sealed ceramic jars still holding the residue of sulfur-based ointments and herbal poultices used to treat the horses of the imperial couriers.
This find is the first of its kind to reveal the specialized medical care mandated for the animals that formed the backbone of Roman communication. The discovery of lead-stamped medical logs indicates that each horse was tracked for health and mileage, ensuring that the high-speed transit of imperial decrees remained uninterrupted across the Iberian provinces.