8 August 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Marvelous Marble Floor Of Sunken Roman Villa Restored in Bacoli

In Bacoli, Italy, an underwater restoration project has uncovered the marvelous marble floor of a submerged Roman villa. This remarkable find is part of an ongoing excavation by CSR Restauro Beni Culturali and Naumacos Underwater Archaeology and Technology at the Submerged Archaeological Park of Baiae, which aims to illuminate the most historically significant underwater region of the Roman Empire.

In a Facebook post, the Parco Archeologico Campi Flegrei announced the discovery of the stunning marble floor near the submerged city of Baiae, located next to present-day Naples.

An expansive opus sectile floor, a decorative technique in which precisely cut pieces of stone or marble create intricate geometric patterns, was discovered by archaeologists collaborating with CSR Restauro Beni Culturali and Naumacos Underwater Archaeology and Technology.

In contrast to mosaics, which employ tesserae—small, uniformly sized pieces—opus sectile uses larger, painstakingly shaped pieces that fit together like a puzzle. This makes it possible to create more intricate and detailed designs, which frequently highlight the wealth and sophistication of the building’s owner. Opus sectile was frequently used to display wealth and artistic sophistication in high-status structures like villas, palaces, and public baths.

Archaeologists working on the restoration of the opus sectile floor in Bacoli. Photo: Edoardo Ruspantini/Parco Archeologico Campi Flegre
Archaeologists working on the restoration of the opus sectile floor in Bacoli. Photo: Edoardo Ruspantini/Parco Archeologico Campi Flegre

The floor, located in the submerged city of Baiae, spans approximately 2,700 square feet (250 square meters) and dates back to the final days of the Roman Empire. Surprisingly, the floor was built with used marble, probably to cut costs, a reflection of the financial strains that even the wealthiest people were facing at the time.

“It is the magic of Baia Sommersa, a marble floor from an ancient Roman villa,” said Bacoli’s mayor, Josi Gerardo Della Ragione. “The floor in opus sectile, with its elaborate geometric motifs and extraordinary craftsmanship, offers a fascinating window into the life and art of ancient Rome. This discovery allows visitors to immerse themselves in history, exploring the hidden wonders beneath the surface of the sea.”

Although the restoration project is still ongoing, archaeologists described it as a “very demanding job” and said they hope to continue providing the public with updates on new developments in the coming weeks.

Detail of the pavement discovered and restored in Bacoli. Photo: Edoardo Ruspantini/Parco Archeologico Campi Flegrei
Detail of the pavement discovered and restored in Bacoli. Photo: Edoardo Ruspantini/Parco Archeologico Campi Flegrei

The submerged city of Baiae, also known as Baia, was an ancient Roman town located on the northwest shore of the Gulf of Naples.  Baiae was renowned in antiquity as an opulent seaside retreat for Roman nobility, renowned for its opulent villas, thermal springs, and hedonistic ambiance.

However, over time, portions of Baiae sank below sea level as a result of bradyseism, which is the slow, alternating uplift and sinking of the Earth’s surface, and volcanic activity. The city was partially submerged as a result of this geological phenomenon.

Parco Archeologico Campi Flegrei

Cover Photo: The recently restored portion of the marble floor of the protiro villa in the submerged park of Baia. Photo: Edoardo Ruspantini

Related Articles

Ancient helmets, temple ruins found at a dig in Velia southern Italy

1 February 2022

1 February 2022

A discovery that “sheds new light on the history of the mighty Greek colony” by Velia. Archaeologists in southern Italy...

Stone Age women in Europe were tied up and buried alive in ritual sacrifices

11 April 2024

11 April 2024

New research has identified over a dozen murders where women were traditionally sacrificed in Neolithic Europe across a period of...

A new study in Portugal suggests that mummification in Europe may be older than previously thought

3 March 2022

3 March 2022

New research on the hunter-gatherer burial sites in the Sado Valley in Portugal, dating to 8,000 years ago, suggests that...

A Small Sandstone Carved With A Viking Ship May Be Oldest Picture Ever Found In Iceland

16 June 2023

16 June 2023

Archaeologists in East Iceland have found a sandstone carved with a Viking ship that may be the oldest picture ever...

Ceremonial cave site from Postclassic Maya period discovered in Yucatán Peninsula

21 December 2021

21 December 2021

Archaeologists have discovered a ceremonial cave site in Chemuyil on the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, that dates from the Postclassic Maya...

Name of Iranian city identified on 1800-year-old Sassanid clay seal

9 April 2024

9 April 2024

In a stunning archaeological find, the name “Shiraz” was identified on a clay sealing from the Sassanid era written in...

Inscription dedicated to Roman Emperor Hadrian found in ancient city of Blaundus

26 November 2024

26 November 2024

An inscription dedicated to the Roman Emperor Hadrian was discovered during the ongoing excavations at the ancient city of Blaundus...

7500-year-old idol of Goddess Asherah located in Israel

22 May 2022

22 May 2022

Archaeologists excavating an ancient cemetery in Israel have discovered an idol they believe belongs to the goddess Ashera at a...

Cosmic cataclysm 1,500 years ago may have caused downfall of the Hopewell Culture

3 February 2022

3 February 2022

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati find evidence of cosmic cataclysm 1,500 years ago at 11 ancient sites in three...

4,000-Year-Old Seal Found at Tavşanlı Mound in Western Türkiye

17 August 2024

17 August 2024

4,000-year-old seal were found at the Tavşanlı Mound (or Tavşanlı Höyük) in Türkiye’s Kütahya province—located in the west of the...

Undeciphered Rongorongo Script from Easter Island may Predate European Colonization

12 February 2024

12 February 2024

From the depths of history, a wooden tablet bearing the mysterious “rongorongo” script has been unearthed from the small, remote...

Archaeologists discovered the monastery of Queen Cynethryth, a strong Anglo-Saxon queen

19 August 2021

19 August 2021

Archaeologists from the University of Reading and local volunteers excavating on the grounds of Holy Trinity Church have made an...

7,000-year-old Ritual Complex Found In Jordan Desert

23 February 2022

23 February 2022

The team of French and Jordanian archaeologists has discovered a 7,000-year-old ritualistic complex near what is thought to be the...

Urartian-Era Fortress with 50 Rooms Discovered at 3,000 Meters in Eastern Türkiye

5 August 2025

5 August 2025

Archaeologists uncover a massive high-altitude fortress believed to date back to the Iron Age, with ties to the ancient Urartian...

Storms uncover precious marble cargo from a 1,800-year-old Mediterranean shipwreck in Israel

15 May 2023

15 May 2023

Numerous rare marble artifacts have been found at the site of a 1,800-year-old shipwreck in shallow waters just 200 meters...