The excavation undertaken in 2005 in via dei Carbonari (Trajan’s Forum) involved an area in the south corner of the forum up against the via dei Fori Imperiali.

The investigation revealed the series of canalised sewers that were part of the complex system for water disposal, which, as it cut the excavation area in a longitudinal direction, compromised the possibility of recording the medieval road surfaces in their entirety. The cobbled surface uncovered immediately above the cement floor of the forum underlines the continuity of use that was uninterrupted until the 11th century A.D. when the area became swamped due to the collapse of the waste water disposal system and was abandoned.

The subsequent land reclamation indicates a renewal of activity in the area, but with a different function. From the 12th century a road was laid out, with a surface comprising stone fragments and small bricks, on a south-west/north-east alignment. There were probably open spaces alongside the road, perhaps used for market gardening.

Between the 12th and 14th century the area was re-organised and constantly in use, so much so that the road had to be resurfaced several times. At the same time the area was delimited on the north-west and south-east sides by two buildings, constructed respectively in the 12th century and at the beginning of the 13th century.

From the 15th century, the period in which the last recorded road surface was laid, there was a halt in building activity which only ended during the course of the 16th century when the sewer system which runs along via dei Carbonari was constructed. These structures remained in use until at least the last century, when they were modernised. This canalisation became necessary when the Alessandrino quarter grew up: at least two rooms were built at the sides of the road, re-using what remained from the medieval period. (MiBAC)