Illegal excavation reveals grand Roman villa with elaborate mosaics
Archaeologists say the Imperial-era villa was still being excavated, with black-and-white mosaics, marble work and a statue fragment among the finds.
- Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli announced Monday that authorities, in collaboration with the Carabinieri, stopped a clandestine excavation near Rome, revealing an Imperial-era villa in Castel di Guido.
- In its Imperial heyday, the area was known as Lorium, a hamlet of residential palaces frequented by emperors including Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius.
- Archaeologist Alessia Contino of the Special Superintendency of Rome identified elaborate black and white botanical mosaics and a statue of Silvanus within the grand atrium and sunken basin.
- Concerned neighbors alerted authorities to illicit night activity in February; the Ministry of Culture secured the area and opens it to visitors Saturday by appointment.
- The Carabinieri Art Police, a specialized unit dedicated to stopping the theft of Italy's historical treasures, continues investigating the raid as further public access dates are expected throughout the coming months.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Local 3 News
A Roman villa with intricate mosaics has been unearthed on the outskirts of the Italian capital, in a remarkable find that came to light after police were alerted to an illegal excavation on government land.
Because a suspected black grave hint came in, archaeologists and carabinieri arrived at a country estate near Rome, where they found the remains of a well-preserved villa from the Imperial period.
Illegal excavation reveals grand Roman villa with elaborate mosaics
A Roman villa with intricate mosaics has been unearthed on the outskirts of the Italian capital, in a remarkable discovery that emerged after police were alerted to a clandestine dig on government land.
A Roman villa decorated with elaborate mosaics was discovered in the vicinity of Rome, after the Italian authorities intervened to stop illegal excavations carried out on a land owned by the state. The discovery was made in the town of Castel di Guido, located about 20 kilometers from the capital of Italy, transmits CNN. During the Roman Empire, the area was part of the Lorium settlement, known for the residences frequented by members of the eli…
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