Italian archeologists trying to uncover the first kilometer of the famous Via Appia, the longest road of ancient Rome, are showing pessimism because groundwater makes it impossible to dig deep.

Appius Claudius Caecus began construction of the "queen of all roads" (regina viarum) in the 4th century BC, connecting Rome to Brindisi on the southeastern tip of Italy, a port of strategic importance for the entire Mediterranean region.

The "first kilometer" of the Via Appia is believed to be near the ancient Baths of Caracalla, about eight meters below the surface. However, months of efforts by archeologists to bring it to light are expected to be abandoned in the coming days.

Excavations reached a depth of six meters, but "groundwater is preventing us from continuing," archeology professor Riccardo Santangeli Valenciani told reporters.

However, the excavation is not considered a failure, as it revealed important finds: among them an ancient Roman statue and one of the oldest coins minted in the Papal mint (690-730 AD).