The excavations in 2005 concentrated on the theatre zone and the area south of the forum basilica. The results obtained were of great significance.

In the theatre area the trench put in between the eastern edge of the cavea and the monumental cistern further clarified several aspects regarding the relationship between the two monuments that had remained unresolved.

The existence of a series of hydraulic structures pre-dating the theatre’s construction was confirmed. These structures fed the space latter occupied by the cavea, from a warehouse structure which preceded the existence of the cistern. The great cistern’s construction phases were also identified with more precision; the first dating to the 2nd century B.C. with subsequent restructuring in the late Republican and early Imperial periods.

In the area south of the forum produced significant results for the understanding of the urban organisation of this part of the city’s monumental centre. The open area excavation (circa 50 × 25 m) provided the answers to some very important questions. The identification of the remains of the south-eastern corner of the judicial basilica completed the plan of this building which measured a total of 42.5 × 22.5 m. Moreover, on the basis of other data obtained during this excavation campaign it may be suggested that the structure’s central nave was defined by a series of 8 × 4 columns and not 9 × 4 as previously proposed and that the central space between the columns was also wider, perhaps suggesting the existence of the tribunal.

At circa 2 m from the basilica a large solid construction came to light, constituted by a rectangular opus caementicium podium on a north-south alignment. Considering its size and situation this must have been a building of great importance which has yet to be clearly identified (perhaps it was the city’s curia or a temple). It is hoped that subsequent excavations will produce sufficient evidence for a correct attribution.

In order to get as complete a picture as possible of this part of the city the entire area south of the basilica and the opus caementicium building was cleared as far as the road bordered by the nymphaeum excavated by M. Borda in around 1950. The entire area was occupied by a series of tanks, in opus reticulatum lined with opus signinum. These were for collecting the water that fed the nymphaeum which faced onto the decumanus. (MiBAC)