As part of the restructuring of Pavia’s State Archive, which stands on the remains of the ex-convent of S. Maiolo, trenches had already been excavated in past years. In 2006 the project foresaw the installation of the heating plant below the conference hall, situated in the building’s west wing.

The excavation revealed an interesting stratigraphy, with seven phases documenting the occupation of the area from the Roman period until the 19th century. The discovery of substantial Roman and medieval structures meant that the project could not be undertaken.

The most important result of the archaeological investigation was the identification of a Roman building, although it was difficult to date and interpret. It is a notable find considering the lack of archaeological evidence relating to Ticinum. The presence of levels containing Roman material (even if residual), including a reused Corinthian capital, was noted in several parts of the architectural complex during excavation. A working hypothesis may be put forward.

It seems possible to exclude that this was a building of status: it may have been a complex used for craft-working activities or low status residential structures reused for “productive” functions in a period of decline. Its position in a certain sense hidden away inside the Roman city (in the south-west zone towards the river) could support this interpretation.

It seems a strange coincidence that there was also a craft-working installation in the same space in the modern era.