The modern town of Practica di Mare, which has developed around a medieval tower, partly occupied the ancient acropolis. The loss of the ancient toponym is due to a gradual depopulation which determined the loss of Lavinium in the late antique period.

In the first phase (1957-1969) the investigations concentrated on the suburban area with the exploration of the Santuary of the XII Altars (mid 6th- beginning of the 3rd century B.C.), perhaps the Aphrodision cited in the sources. The find of a bronze lamina bearing a dedication to the Dioscuri (6th century B.C.) offered new elements for the study of the introduction of the cult of the twins to Latium and Rome itself. In 1968, near the sanctuary, an Orientalizing tumulus tomb, monumentalised in the 4th century B.C., was discovered, identified by P. Somella with the heroon of Indiges, assimilated with Aeneas.

In 1977 investigations began again on the slopes of the hill east of the ancient city where a dump of votive material was discovered (end of the 7th-beginning of the 3rd century B.C.), relating to the cult of Minerva and comprising fragments of terracotta statues.

In the 1980s the earliest evidence found consisted of “ a pozzetto” cremation burials dating to the Final Bronze Age (XI-X century B.C.), obliterated by occupation levels containing material of the 8th and 7th centuries B.C. Two large complexes date to the archaic period (6th century B.C.), built with a footing of blocks and other segments of cappellaccio and frameworked walls, destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 3rd century B.C. The most important element was constituted by the forum with connected buildings. On the short western side were a building on a podium and a large temple with three cellae or ad alae, of late Republican date. This was monumentalised in the Augustan period with the addition of two foreparts at the side of the stairway, which had substituted an earlier cult building, to whose decorative scheme splendid architectural terracotta slabs belong. It is possible that this was the temple of Minerva to which the large dump of votive material belonged that was found outside the city walls in 1977. The long sides of the forum were delimited by porticoes on to which rooms opened. That one of these was an Augusteum is attested by the presence of marble portraits of the Julio-Claudian emperors. The structures, which date to the Flavian period, are evidence that the forum was restructured at that time. A large bath complex, of Severan date, occupied the entire frontage of the hill towards the west. (MiBAC)