This season, Temple University’s excavations at Piano della Cività di Artena (RM) checked the data that emerged during previous years. The actual excavations lasted for a shorter period than usual and the rest of the season was spent cleaning some of the Roman villa’s structures, such as the room with mosaic floor, the western arm of the peristyle and the pool, which were then covered.

Excavation continued in two sectors: in the funerary area situated south-east of the villa (area 52), and in the production area to the west (areas 43 and 65). In addition, a stretch of the villa’s water supply pipe was investigated (area 44).

To date, the excavations in the funerary area cover c. 18 m2. Thus far, the remains of four burials have been found, partly disturbed by later events. The graves had tiles on the bottom and one was also covered by stones. The bodies were not all on the same alignment, although most had the head to the west. The close proximity of the burials suggests the available space was limited, or that the burials were not marked, or that the grave markers had disappeared during the prolonged use of the area. Whatever the case, it can be excluded that the burials were random or scattered. The burials to the south-east of the villa can be added to the those of perinatal individuals identified in previous years in the western part of the excavation area, adjacent to the villa. The study of the pottery should establish for how long the two funerary areas were used, and whether they were coeval.

The other area investigated during the 2017 campaign is situated west of the villa (areas 43 and 65), where in previous years a late antique production complex was partially excavated. It constitutes the last phase of a long occupation period, which begun before the villa’s construction. The area currently being excavated is primarily a doliarium. To date the remains of eight silos have been found belonging to different phases, one of which ended in the late 3rd century-early 4th century A.D., while the subsequent phase lasted until at least the end of the 6th century A.D. Only the continuation of the excavations will make it possible to clarify the details of the occupation in this sector.