The first excavation campaign at the Palazzo of Villa Adriana was performed by the Department of Archaeology of the Universidad Pablo de Olavide (Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain) around the area of the. This project follows the previous archaeological investigations developed during the period 2003-2012 at the Teatro Greco of the same villa, and was preceded by documentation around the area of study during September 2013. This campaign took place in two distinct phases. During the first one, April to May, attention was centred on the open space located by the stibadium at the Palazzo (triclinio estivo, stibadium). The opening of Trench 1 revealed the presence of a portico aligned with the sides of the exedra that surrounds the stibadium. The central area of this space would subsequently be formed by a viridaium, in this case without incorporating the central euripus that would later be part of the architecture seen at the Canopo. The works done during the phase that took place in September of the same year, were centred on the definition of the southern edge of the western peristyle of the Palazzo, formed by the Triclinio Estivo. Trench 2 was located at the central area of the exedra as well as in the one that precedes it. Here work concentrated on the cleaning of the visible structure, which allowed us to understand the different building stages as well as to study the previous structures (at times reused). Some well-documented structures located within this area belong to the phase previous to the reworking of the area, a good example being the wall of the basis villae used as the physical limit to the western area where a series of leisure spaces would be added. Among these one stands out: an exedra that, symmetrical to the one located at the opposite sector, holds a ninfeo most likely to be the source of the numerous revetment fragments found (various kinds of shells, glass, tesserae of glass paste…), which shows its connection to an aquatic atmosphere. Trenches 3 and 5, were disposed following the line established by the western portico, so as to try and check whether there was an east-west wall closing the space found before the stibadium. Under a series of layers and pits, that prove the various activities that have taken part in the Villa throughout its existence, the Roman structures were found. The only alignment found was the stylobate of the western portico, continuing the preserved fragment of the northern line. This wall, built during the Republican era as a retaining wall to the terrace located to the east of this area, was built in opus incertum, similar to polygonal masonry. During the imperial period, the terrace wall of the basis villae was used to support the area with portico of the peristyle, and the intermediate space was filled with a considerable amount of loose rubble once a new terrace wall was built to the West. Trench 4 was created to check on the existence of a sewer system suggested by a small opening on the ground. This was the case: it runs inside the western ambulatio and takes a southeast turn at the southern side of the trench does, heading towards the door into the area, draining to the exterior. It is likely that the drain was connected with the drainage system of the peristyle.

The excavation took place from April to May 2015, and centered on the northern sector of the Palazzo, a residential space linked to the first palace built by the Emperor in his property near Tibur. _Trench 6_ is located in the middle of the open space found at the Northern side of the triclinio estivo. Its goal was to reveal a general idea of the architectural design of this area. Measuring 6 x 2 m, it was later extended so as to include a part of the wall positioned at its northern side, and meausured10 x 3,5 m. Under a series of organic layers, of about 15 cm, a series of heavily-damaged Hadrianic structures were found. The alignment of a cross wall that divides the open space proves the existence of a sequence of rooms and, to their North, an open space with a mosaic formed by large tesserae. _Trench 7_ was carried out at the foot of the western wall that closes the portico of the triclinio estivo. It was intended to check on the existence of an ambulacrum at the northern end of the portico, continuing the circulation inside the western corridor, identified during the 2014 campaign, and the sector where the imperial housings are. A 6.5 x 3 m long trench would be done and, later on, extended so as to explore the structures associated with the Western ambulacrum and another construction. There was in fact no trace of an ambulacrum. Instead, we found a poorly-preserved mortar floor, that defines the central space of the portico, under which was found an outlet channel (NE-SE) that carried used water from the imperial accommodations to the lower terrace of the Palazzo. _Trench 8_ was located in front of the imperial accommodations, in order to check the design and configuration of these private spaces, as well as the existence of a portico symmetrical to that documented at the triclinio estivo. Initially measuring 4.5 x 4 m., the trench was extended west so as to join trench CD-9, and south to reach the structures documented in CD-7. Under a series of organic layers about 10 cm. thick, and after emptying a few “looting residues”, the existence of Hardrianic structures in this space was demonstrated, including the front wall of the imperial accommodations that face the viridarium. It was connected to these with a mortar floor. We have not yet found a portico that would organize the different accesses to the accommodations; this will be sought in future campaigns. _Trench 9_ was located at the southwestern side of the imperial accomodation, and was aimed atobtaining the design and configuration of these private spaces. A 5 x 1,5 m. long trench was established and then extended so as to connect and unify its findings to those of trench CD-8. As in the case of trench 8, no portico was found. _Trench 10_ is located in the middle of the north side of the imperial spaces, under the wall of the basis villae. Its purpose was to compare its organization to the parallel walls that found at the ninfeo belonging to the E-LXX. A 5 x 4 m. trench was opened, including the visible structures at the northern limit of the terrace (over which the imperial accommodations were built), as well as some ruins of a wall, part of structure E-201 from the 2013 campaign. The cut was extended north so as to also include the ramp over the sub-structures of this side during Hadrianic times. Cleaning this sector resulted in the discovery of a flat surface probably used as the base of a nymphaeum. This could be connected to the water supply structures found, in front of a vat which might have been used as an overflow tank.

The excavations, which took place in April 2016, focused on the north section of this space, over the residential area connected to the first palace ever built by the Emperor. This campaign placed its main focus on the definition of the northern side of the central peristyle, so as to continue with the analysis of this portico. At the same time, work too place on the rooms that open onto the north of the western peristyle: this was n necessary in order to complete the aims of the previous campaign (2015). In order to achieve this, Trench 6 (delimited during the 2015 campaign), was extended. As a result, a transverse wall was found that divides this space, proving the existence of an open spot to the north connected to the service area found under the terrace. So as to be certain of this new information, Trench 14 was dug. To the south, a covered room gave way to two built spaces, located at both western and eastern sides of the area, that relate to the pavement documented in Trench 21. To check the continuity of the pavement found during this campaign in Trench 8, and to document more precisely the walls that appeared in Trench 9 (utterly destroyed due to the looting that this area suffered), it was necessary to dig the intermediate space in between Trenches 8 and 9. The 2016 campaign has provided documentation of new pieces of walls built during the Hadrianic phase, but obliterated during their construction, that could very well belong to a first conception of the project,either modified during the building (which seems to be more likely), or built to to enable the construction and subsequently destroyed and covered by marble pavement all along this front. _Trench 11_ was located in front of the rooms of the Northern block of the central porticus, with the idea of identifying the possible existence of a colonnade porticoes. Initially measuring 3.30 x 2.50 m. it was later extended to the south so as to check on the existence of the peristyle in this sector. The trench provided the evidence of looting present all around this area, the opus sectile pavement that floored the ambulacrum, only remained as prints on the mortar. On the other hand, the existence of a massive pit, the consequence of pillaging, located to the south of the trench allowed us to document a partial section of the North corridor, exactly as wide as the portico at 3.05 meters. _Trench 12_ was placed right where the western and central peristyles connected, in order to demonstrate the communication between them. A trench measuring 4.50 x 3.15 meters was opened. As it happened in Trench 11, only the mortar preparation of the pavement was found. The stylobate of the north section of the eastern portico was found just over 3m from the back wall. Another wall that delimited both porticoes was found, connected by a stair that, as in the case of the adjoining peristyle, suffered looting. The stair was 1.90 meters wide: only one step is remains, showing the imprint of mortar that could serve as a base for marble plaques, as well as a riser consistent with medium-sized tufo masonry which also shows a coating of mortar for another marble plaque. It should be pointed out that the Hadrianic alignment follows, in their general axis, the disposition of the pre-existing structures found in the area. _Trench 13_, measured 6.50 x 2 meters, and is located along the western portico at the western court, in order to try and find an oblique wall that would close a hypothetical ambulacrum at the northern side of this patio. As in Trench 7, no transversal wall was to be found. Trench 15 was placed to the south of Trench 12, and aimed to document the existence of a colonnade in this sector, which was found. The trench measured 4 x 2 meters and was placed perpendicular to the northern side of the palace´s eastern peristyle. As with the rest of the area, there were signs of looting, shown by the rubble found at the bottom of the stratigraphy, which filled a pit larger than the trench itself. _Trench 20_ was symmetrical to Trench 15, at the opposite side of the central patio. Precisely keeping in mind the symmetry system, it was also intended to show the lack of ambulacra in this the central patio. More evidence of pillaging was found all over the area of the cut. Due to the fact that only rubble appeared at the bottom of the trench, it was deemed appropriate to stop digging. _Trench 16 and Trench 18_, took place in front of the south side of room LXII, a space that enabled access from the service area at the northwestern side of the imperial residence. This was meant to date the building of the openings that connected this space to room LXI (seeing as the cleaning of this room showed that the communication to both sites, planned before construction and symmetrical to that found today between rooms LVI and LVII, had been closed within the Hadrianic phase). Thus, two trenches of 1.50 x 1.25 meters were dug, resulting in the discovery of yet more evidence of looting: only some mortar and the preparation for the pavement that was to cover this room was found, the marble having been robbed. At the same time, a cut that crosses both trenches east to west proves the existence of a lead pipe, today missing, that would in part supply the aquatic installations in the adjacent room. Finally , the blocking of the openings between rooms LXII and LXI, was demonstrated; this took place during the Hadrianic phase and, as well as the adjoining ornaments, was renovated during the musealization of the site. _Trench 17_ was opened in front of the apsidal room with the intention of documenting the aquatic installations in the exedra found here, seeing as at least two different moments of the construction process are visible: the walls that delimitate the area and the exedra were built first. Once this was carried out a waterfall was created in the apse, emphasizing the exedra. A trench measuring 7.70 x 2.7 meters, though the weakness of the construction fill found kept us from being able to complete work. From the prints left on the mortar, it is clear that the space was floored using marble plaques in a quincunx style with variable lengths and widths around 0.60 meters. On the wall, opus signinum mortar shows prints about 0.55 meters wide. The plundering of the lead pipes belonging to the space, on both sides of the apse and running out to a drain located in room E-LXIII, has enabled us to recognise the preparation of the marble pavement of the room, formed by opus caementicium almost 0.40 meters thick. _Trench 19_ was found at the bottom of the apsidal hall, and aimed to document the form of the access to this area, as well as to calculate the elevation of the room, once the findings of Trench 17 had been processed. It measured 5.50 x 4 meters and occupyed the eastern corner defined by structure 178. As happened at the other end of the room, a layer of rubble composed of collapsed ceiling and thick and weakly consolidated walls was exposed, located either beside the marble pavement of the space, or the looting interface. As elsewhere, looting was very visible to the south of the trench, showing, outside the portico, the same deep ditch found in _Trenches 11, 12, 15 and 20_. All in all, the Hadrianic phase is well documented thanks to the discovery of the enclosure of the “pond-room” to the south, and the existence of a channel on axis with the chamber whose waters empty into a structure located beyond the established grid.