In July and August 2006 during the excavation campaign in the Archaeological Park of Forum Sempronii (S. Martino del Piano di Fossombrone), the work concentrated, as in the preceding two years, on the rediscovery of the Domus of Europa and its three building phases. The building was uncovered by chance in 1878-1880 during the excavation of a trench related to the construction of the “Metaurense Railway”, which crossed the Roman settlement from east to west. In 1926 and 1929 the Regia Soprintendenza had lifted the two polychrome mosaics seen earlier and had them transported to Ancona Museum. The larger of the two depicted a figured emblem showing Europa riding the bull, while the second was characterised by symmetrical geometric motifs.
The recent excavations identified the two rooms from which the mosaics were lifted as well as several others within the context of the Domus of Europa, situated along the city’s cardo maximus. At present the project is underway to return the two mosaics to their original positions, as part of the Archaeological Park. The mosaics have been restored and will be displayed under an appropriate covering, according to a programme of safeguarding and valorisation agreed by Urbino University and the Archaeological Superintendency of the Marche, following the restructuring of the Archaeological Museum. Moreover, an exhibition on the “Domus” is being prepared at Fossombrone with the above mentioned mosaics, a tract of frescoed wall showing exotic animals inside panels (recently recovered and restored) and various articles of furnishing from the house.
Excavations continued at the eastern baths, along the Decumanus minor south of the Flaminia, which crossed the city between the two main gates. Along this paved road, characterised in part by the presence of eight statue bases that were originally in bronze, monumental structures were excavated. In the collapse a series of late antique tombs were found which attest the continuity of occupation even after the settlement was destroyed. (Mario Luni)