CNR’s Institute of Ancient Mediterranean Studies, in collaboration with the Archaeological Superintendency of Lazio and Rome – La Sapienza University, began new excavations at the villa with the aim of gaining a “global” understanding of the building in its historical-territorial context. The research continues the investigations begun in 2010 by Prof. Patrizio Pensabene, forty years on from the excavations that originally brought the complex to light.

During the 2013 campaign, it was decided to deepen the excavation in room 25, part of the baths complex, where the 1969-72 excavations had only touched the surface layers and no floor was preserved. Below the surface layers, ancient stratigraphy constituted by a substantial accumulation of material relating to the destruction of a hypocaust was revealed. Its analysis could provide new clues for the interpretation of the evidence documented in rooms 24, 26, 28 and 29, and in general for the reconstruction of the order in which the rooms forming the baths complex were used.

During the excavation, the cataloguing and study of the finds was undertaken, in particular the pottery, plaster, and dolium fragments found during the excavation of the cryptoporticus. In collaboration with the Istituto per le Tecnologie applicate ai Beni Culturali (ITABC) at CNR, a study will be made of the composition of the pottery and plaster. Work continues on the comparative study of the materials from the old excavations and the study of the production of the typical rose-coloured limestone breccia known as Cottanello marble.