The two trenches opened in the area north-west of the Templum Pacis aimed to consolidate the stretch of the Forum’s back wall (trench 1) and analyse the stratigraphic sequences below the marble pavement.

Trench 1 examined a medieval robber trench (13th century), which ran parallel to the back wall of the Forum of Peace. The robbing removed the foundation blocks below the forum’s back wall. Once this was achieved the trench was filled with earth mixed with unstable debris which subsequently caused the wall to fracture. The fill in the robber trench was characterised by the presence of a notable quantity of large marble fragments (the torso of a reclining statue, elements from a trabeation, a step and column drums).

In trench 1 a phase preceding the Flavian marble paving was identified. This comprised three rectangular foundation plinths with a brick exterior facing on one of the long side. The three plinths covered a cement foundation platform, on which rested the Flavian sewer pipe running parallel to the back wall of the Templum Pacis.

Trench 2 confirmed the Flavian date for the marble paving visible in the south-western area of the forum and identified phases which preceded the Flavian layout of the forum. These were attested by an opus reticulatum wall and an opus signinum floor belonging to a vast room on a different alignment to the forum (still to be investigated) which seems to belong to a service area (warehouse?) of a Republican macellum. this structure was demolished around the mid 1st century A.D. together with other surrounding structures. Earth was dumped over the rubble in order to raise the ground level. These interventions were obliterated by the construction of the Templum Pacis. (MiBAC)