Meaning of 'save as regards'

Question

The following line is from a passage that I was reading:

If the Italian peninsula had been submerged in the Mediterranean after the fall of Rome, we would still have been in possession of much documentary evidence concerning growth and ascent of Roman empire, although the ponderable remains of the civilization and its architecture and the soil upon which the empire flourished would have been lost forever save as regards their colonial manifestations.

What is the precise meaning of save as regards their colonial manifestations?

Answer 1

Save as means except here. Thus, "save as regards their manifestations" means "except for their manifestations". The whole paragraph is saying that even if Italy disappeared, much evidence of Roman empire still would exist elsewhere in the world.