The restructuring of an old school, the “Silvio Pellico”, destined to become part of “La Sapienza” University, revealed several Roman structures dating to between the second half of the 2nd and the first half of the 4th centuries A.D.
The structures formed part of a rectangular room (room A), of which three sides, two entrances and the collapse of the vault were conserved. The room’s interior was organised on two levels, linked by stairs. Towards the north east a second room (room B) paved with sesquipedales was uncovered. Four building phases were identified within the complex.
The three walls, with brick revetment, and the related entrances S and E belong to phase one datable to the second half of the 2nd century A.D.
In phase two a vertical cut was made in wall E for the construction of a brick building with a barrel vaulted roof. The anepigraphic brickstamps present on the bessales can only be dated generically to the Trajanic-Severian period at the present time, but detailed study will provide more accurate dating.
At the same time as the construction of the vault, the floor level was raised and the stairs built in re-used travertine blocks. Although it is not possible to establish the function of the phase one structures, the presence of stairs, the re-use of building materials and the rough, beaten earth pavement suggest that the phase two structures were related to service activities.
During phase three a brick-built half column faced with white stucco was added to the wall forming the limit (O) of room B, situated outside of room A.
The blocking of entrance E occurred in phase four, which suggests a change in function of the building’s façade.
Structures relating to the post-classical occupation were revealed by a trench dug within zone N of the modern building. (Salvo Barrano, Mariateresa Martines)