In 2005 the excavation campaign continued in the northern areas of Aquileia. The area, especially in the late antique period, as is known, formed a residential area characterized by several domus of superior quality, situated to the south of the area at present being excavated, including the so-called domus of Licurgus and Ambrosia. At the same time, its proximity to the commercial zones connected to the river port, lead to the supposition that this may have been a commercial area, at least in part. The last summer excavation campaign lead to the total removal of the layer of dump (US 05), constituted by fragmented pottery and stone datable to between the 5th and 7th century A.D., and the consequent recovery of the final residential phase of the area, in particular in the southern part of the excavation. However, excavation only revealed a series of completely decayed structures that related to the abandonment of the area in the late antique period (5th-6th century A.D.). In fact, several badly made walls were found, made from re-used material together with a beaten-earth pavement with small areas of white lime, which constituted the ancient floor level of the rooms west of the cardine, with the exception of a very small fragment of not very cohesive tessellated pavement, fond along the excavation’s southern limit. The only structure still in situ was a small brick channel, insulated with numerous amphora stoppers, according to a fairly well known procedure. Its course was followed below the basoli of the partially conserved road which crosses the excavation on a N-S alignment. (Federica Fontana)

Excavations were mainly concentrated in two zones: the southern extension of sector C, south of the cardo which divides the entire area under investigation, and a limited part of sector A west of the cardo. Below the abandonment levels previously examined in the southern extension of the eastern excavation area, delimited to the west by a road (cardine), brought to light robber trenches placed at a regular distance up against the road itself and in relation with other trenches previously investigated in the continuation of the sector to the north. These trenches, placed on a regular alignment, are thought to belong to a structure with a portico, of which the pilaster bases remain, positioned directly below the road itself. This structure preceded the probable commercial structures situated along the road. The stratigraphy, best preserved in the new sector D, provided new information regarding the ancient occupation levels by revealing a few patches of beaten floor which are now considered pertinent to the commercial structures identified in the area. In sector D there seemed to be the presence of a demolition-levelling layer below the floor levels, which functioned as the make up for the road (cardine). In fact, this level seemed to cover parts of structures or displaced building material. The amphorae found were mainly African, the most common types being Keay XXV, XXVI, XXXV and LXII which give a chronology of between the 4th and 6th century A.D. Amongst the Eastern productions were a table amphora LRA 3, and types LRA 1 and LRA 4, attested by body sherds and handles. African sigillata C and D, widespread in the 4th-5th century A.D. were also found. Of particular interest was the discovery of two coin groups, one in the north-east area of sector C, the other in sector A. The coins are mainly of Imperial date and hardly legible. (MiBAC)