(ANSA) - Milan, October 9 - "When we speak of archaeology, we find our common roots, and, at the same time, we collaborate for our future," said Israeli Ambassador to Italy Naor Gilon at the bilateral Italian-Israeli symposium on archaeology and agriculture, held at the Israel Pavilion at Milan Expo.
    The two-day conference traces the history of the search for what, historically, unites two lands that are geographically far apart.
    It turns out that this is more than one might think, starting with the aqueducts of the Roman Empire.
    The conference, in which Italian experts participated alongside those of the Archaeology Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority, was an occasion to reflect on management of two countries' extraordinary cultural heritage.
    "Italy and Israel are historically very close, and so they have a lot in common," Gilon said.
    "Among those who developed drip irrigation in Israel, which is one of the central themes of the Israel pavilion at Expo, was a Jewish Italian who emigrated, Joel De Malach. "Wherever you look, in recent history as well as in the distant past, there are signs of relations and friendships between the people of Israel and Italy".