The 2018 field season broadened our understanding of the site and raised new questions. Explorations in Area 1 concentrated on the complex passageways underneath the amphitheater arena, not only further confirming the presence of a continuous series of barrel vaulted rooms on the western side of the central gallery, but also revealing a small masonry structure leaning against the wall that delimits the east side of the arena, almost along the minor axis. This structure, with a narrow, square opening, is symmetrical to a similar one uncovered on the western side of the arena. The apertures of both contained several large iron nails, suggesting the placement of substantial, vertical wooden supports, the function of which still needs to be understood in the context of the arena’s use.
In Area 2, we exposed more of the black-and-white mosaic found in 2017 with spiraling vines emerging from a kantharos in an angular position. Its central pseudo-emblema seems to be completely missing, but the mosaic must have decorated a probably square room of around four meters on a side. The continuation of the investigations in the southeast niche of the circular room brought to light an almost fully preserved black-and-white mosaic representing the head of a medusa in a semi-scutum similar to the one previously investigated in the northwest niche, but with interesting design and stylistic variations. Among the artifacts found here, in addition to the large quantity of fresco fragments (especially red, yellow or with floral decorations), we found a considerable quantity of epigraphic brickstamps, together with a few epigraphic ones. Finally, several World War II combat artifacts uncovered in Area 2 open a window on the recent past of this imperial villa.