Name
Villa delle Vignacce
Date Range
100 BC – 600
Monuments
Villa

Seasons

  • AIAC_973 - Villa delle Vignacce - 2006
    The first excavation campaign opened two trenches, A and B. Trench A revealed structures documenting at least four construction phases. The first was distinguished by the use of _opus latericius_, datable to the early Imperial period, in the construction of several rectangular rooms probably for residential use. In the second phase, characterised by the use of _opus mixtum_, the preceding structures were modified by the addition of several curved walls relating to rooms with varied plans and vaulted roofs: it is not clear whether this was a residential complex or part of the baths of Parco degli Acquedotti. Phase three, characterised by the use of _opus vittatum_, relates to a bath complex. Part of the _calidarium_ with a marble lined pool was uncovered, together with a large access area with a black and white mosaic floor and a cross vaulted ceiling decorated with very fine mosaics with marble and glass paste _tesserae_. A small room with a masonry bench along the walls, probably a changing room, also emerged. The chronology of this phase seems to fall between the 3rd and 4th century A.D. The fourth phase saw the reconstruction of the earlier structures: nearly all the doors and windows were blocked, the floors repaved and the walls stripped and faced with mortar that was not intended to be decorative in any way. It appears that the intention was to transform the baths into a sort of fortress. This phase was characterised by the use of _opus spicatum_, known in 5th and 6th century Roman contexts. In trench B only fragmentary evidence emerged; walls datable to the four construction phases seen in trench A; part of a wall in _opus reticulatum_ may be all that remains of an earlier phase datable to the Republican period. The marble fragments from the walls and/or pavements, together with the mosaics attest the richness of this Imperial complex. (MiBAC)

Media

Name
Villa delle Vignacce
Year
2006
Summary
en The first excavation campaign opened two trenches, A and B.

Trench A revealed structures documenting at least four construction phases. The first was distinguished by the use of _opus latericius_, datable to the early Imperial period, in the construction of several rectangular rooms probably for residential use.

In the second phase, characterised by the use of _opus mixtum_, the preceding structures were modified by the addition of several curved walls relating to rooms with varied plans and vaulted roofs: it is not clear whether this was a residential complex or part of the baths of Parco degli Acquedotti.

Phase three, characterised by the use of _opus vittatum_, relates to a bath complex. Part of the _calidarium_ with a marble lined pool was uncovered, together with a large access area with a black and white mosaic floor and a cross vaulted ceiling decorated with very fine mosaics with marble and glass paste _tesserae_. A small room with a masonry bench along the walls, probably a changing room, also emerged. The chronology of this phase seems to fall between the 3rd and 4th century A.D.

The fourth phase saw the reconstruction of the earlier structures: nearly all the doors and windows were blocked, the floors repaved and the walls stripped and faced with mortar that was not intended to be decorative in any way. It appears that the intention was to transform the baths into a sort of fortress. This phase was characterised by the use of _opus spicatum_, known in 5th and 6th century Roman contexts.

In trench B only fragmentary evidence emerged; walls datable to the four construction phases seen in trench A; part of a wall in _opus reticulatum_ may be all that remains of an earlier phase datable to the Republican period. The marble fragments from the walls and/or pavements, together with the mosaics attest the richness of this Imperial complex. (MiBAC)
it La prima campagna di scavo ha previsto l’apertura di due saggi denominati A e B.

Nel saggio A sono state rinvenute strutture che documentano almeno 4 fasi edilizie. La prima contraddistinta dall’impiego dell’opera laterizia e databile alla prima età imperiale, vede la costruzione di alcuni ambienti a pianta rettangolare forse a carattere residenziale.

Nella seconda fase, caratterizzata dall’uso dell’opera mista, le precedenti strutture vengono trasformate con la realizzazione di alcune murature curvilinee relative ad ambienti di pianta mistilinea con copertura a volta: non è chiaro se vi si debba riconoscere un impianto residenziale o un altro settore delle terme del Parco degli Acquedotti.

La terza fase, caratterizzata dall’opera vittata, è riferibile ad un impianto termale. E’ emerso un settore del _calidarium_ con la vasca rivestita di marmi, un grande ambiente di disimpegno con un pavimento a mosaico bianco e nero coperto con volta a crociera rivestita da finissimi mosaici in tessere di marmi e pasta vitrea, ed un piccolo ambiente con panca in muratura lungo le pareti, probabilmente lo spogliatoio. La cronologia di questa fase sembra da collocarsi tra il III e il IV secolo d.C.

La quarta fase vede la ricostruzione delle precedenti strutture: vengono tamponate quasi tutte le porte e le finestre, rifatti i pavimenti e spogliate le pareti, a vantaggio di rivestimenti di malta privi di ogni finalità decorativa. Sembra che si sia voluto trasformare l’impianto termale in una sorta di fortilizio. In questa fase spicca l’opera a spina di pesce, nota a Roma in contesti di V e VI secolo.

Il saggio B ha restituito evidenze frammentarie; sono emerse murature riconducibili alle 4 fasi di vita già attestate nel saggio A; parte di una muratura in opera reticolata potrebbe essere quanto resta di una più antica fase databile in età repubblicana. Frammenti di marmi riferibili ai rivestimenti parietali e/o pavimentali testimoniano, insieme ai mosaici, la ricchezza di questo complesso di età imperiale.
Summary Author
MiBAC
Team
Archaeologist representing the Soprintendenza - Roberto Egidi
Field director - Darius Arya
Field director - Dora Cirone

Media

Location

Location
Roma
Easting
12.554137
Northing
41.853394