Excavations on the northern slopes of the Palatine between the Arch of Titus and the Atrium Vestae were undertaken to study a residential quarter occupied by Republican aristocratic residences. The excavation has yielded unexpected results, and it is now possible to reconstruct the history of this area from the ninth century BC through the late Medieval period, the moment of its abandonment. The first systematic arrangement of the slopes dates back to the mid 8th century BC, when a series of scattered huts were destroyed to allow the construction of the fortifications. These walls remained in use until the mid 6th century BC. Following the destruction of the walls, the area was occupied by a private residential area, destroyed later by Nero. New buildings were constructed under the Flavians, who built here two horrea.
Placed in direct communication with the sacred grove of the Vestal Virgins (the lucus Vestae), a domus was found that has been interpreted as the domus publica, dating back to the beginning of the 6th century BC and destroyed under Augustus, who built another horrea in its place.
The most recent extension of the excavation toward the House of the Vestals was undertaken for the study of a building that has been tentatively identificatied as the domus regis sacrorum, as well as an absidal monument, interpreted as the aedes Larum. The oldest phase of both of these structures dates to around 750 BC. Future excavations aim at a better definition the plan of the domus regia of the 8th – 7th century BC, as well as the recovery of new information on monuments belonging to the sanctuary of Vesta. (Dunia Filippi)