At Lago Patria, in the territory of ancient _Liternum_, a complex of structures and a necropolis were discovered, situated around a large _piscina_ and datable from the Republican period to late antiquity. The _piscina_ was lined with opus signinum, built in _opus incertum_ and partially dug into the tufa bank. The structure probably had a pitched _compluvium_ roof, supported on tufa pilasters, traces of which remained along the edge of the wide walkway surrounding the edge. The pool was situated within a space delimited by walls built in _opus Africanum_ which suggested the presence of an enclosure that was open on two sides. The abandonment of the piscina was marked by a layer of fill containing a substantial amount of pottery associated with tile fragments and tufa chippings, datable to between the 2nd century B.C. and the beginning of the 1st century B.C. In the described context the discovery of a number of decorated choroplastic fragments from at least two statues of different sizes was of particular importance. The fragments represented a draped leg and a hand holding a torch. The complex may have been part of a villa or a cult structure, to which both the fragments of terracotta statues and the dense network of channels to the west of the _piscina_ could be attributed. The partial destruction of the _piscina_ and the radical change in use of the area were marked by the creation of a beaten earth track, which obliterated it, crossing it in a south-east/north-west direction. The late antique phase was attested by a necropolis. This comprised twelve “a cappuccina” tombs, without grave goods, and _enchytrismos_ burials, datable to a phase post-dating the abandonment and obliteration of the large _piscina_. The necropolis seemed to form a homogeneous group, created following a traumatic and violent event.

In the ancient Roman town of _Liternum_, today lying within the territory of Giugliano in Campania, at circa 100.00 m south of the _forum_ and on the same alignment, a trench revealed a surviving patch of the colony’s urban fabric. This was constituted by a series of structures, in which a room was recognisable, probably used as a workshop, with an _opus signinum_ floor with marble inserts and a small channel along its south side, delimited by a wall with both sides faced in _opus signinum_. Adjacent was another room, roughly paved with fragments of _amphora_ and imbrices, characterised by the presence of a round well filled with material dating the obliteration to the 3rd century A.D. Occupation of the surrounding area, also seemed to date to this period as it produced coins of the same date. The construction of a successive room can be dated to a later occupation phase. Built of small irregular tufa blocks, it was on a higher level on top of a substantial fill of homogeneous material mainly comprising tufa chippings. This overlay earlier building phases: of the earliest phase, dating to the colony’s foundation, only the foundations survived of a corner in tufa blocks, inside which was an _opus signinum_ floor with marble inserts. The stratigraphy dated the structure, of which no trace of standing walls remained and which may have been deliberately demolished, to the 1st century A.D. The area investigated was situated in one of the southern quarters of the colony, probably used in a late period as the artisans’ area. This was attested by finds of numerous fragments of semi-worked bone, waste from iron working, fragments and strips of lead.

As part of a new project, the first season of excavations investigated the foundation levels of the basilica in the forum of Liternum. A trench was opened on the interior side of the basilica’s west wall (Trench 1) and a second trench was put in along the exterior of the east wall (Trench 2). In trench 1, the excavations revealed three successive _opus_ _signinum_ floor surfaces, without however reaching the deepest foundations of the basilica’s west wall. In trench 2, the foundation levels were investigated to a depth of c. 1.8 m. A thick layer of mortar sealed the fill of the foundation trench. The materials are currently being studied. A survey of the entire forum area was also begun.