28 May 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

14,000-year-old settlement discovered in western Turkey

26 November 2021

26 November 2021

During the rescue excavation carried out in a cave in Dikili, İzmir, in western Turkey, 14 thousand-year-old stone tools and...

A large hall from the time of Viking Harald Bluetooth discovered

26 December 2022

26 December 2022

A large hall from the reign of King Harald Bluetooth of Denmark and Norway was unearthed during housing construction work...

Archaeologists Unearth 78,000-Year Oldest Human Burial

5 May 2021

5 May 2021

A 78,000-year-old group of bones discovered at the mouth of a Kenyan coastal cave constitutes the oldest recorded formal human...

60-million-year-old Snail Fossil Found in southern Turkey

22 May 2021

22 May 2021

A snail fossil dating to the age of 60 million was found in Mersin’s Toroslar district. The snail fossil discovered...

1,500-Year-Old Stained Glass and Mosaics Discovered at Harran Cathedral Excavation in Türkiye

7 February 2025

7 February 2025

Recent excavations at the historic Harran archaeological site, which is included on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List, have yielded rare...

“Cardiff’s earliest house” unearthed during an archaeological dig may shed light on the city’s earliest inhabitants

15 July 2022

15 July 2022

Archaeological excavation in a city park in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, has uncovered what is believed to be the...

Unique 2700-year-old mosaics unearthed in illegal excavations

17 November 2021

17 November 2021

Two 2700-year-old mosaics, which are thought to belong to a Roman rich man and symbolize magnificence, were found in a...

Mine-clearance divers discovered an ancient shipwreck dating from the 3rd century BC

25 June 2023

25 June 2023

As a result of collaborative training exercises between Croatian and Italian naval mine-clearance divers, one of the earliest fully preserved...

Anatolia’s largest olive oil factory unearthed

14 January 2022

14 January 2022

A Roman-era olive oil factory has been unearthed during excavations in the İskenderun district of Hatay. It has been reported...

148 Ancient Tombs Spanning 2,100 Years Unearthed in the Construction Area of the Zoo

18 August 2024

18 August 2024

An ancient burial site with 148 tombs,  spanning over 2,100 years, has been discovered on the construction site of the...

1500-year-old Amulet Made to Ward off the Evil Eye in Galilee

26 May 2021

26 May 2021

Discovered about 40 years ago in the Galilee village of Arbel, the necklace sheds light on life 1500 years ago....

Beautiful’ Water-Nymph Marble Statue Found in Amastris ancient city

8 September 2023

8 September 2023

Excavations in the ancient city of Amastris, located in the Black Sea province of Bartın’s Amasra district, have unearthed a...

The discovery that surprised archaeologists; a Rare glass cup adorning the table of rich Romans in Crimea

2 April 2022

2 April 2022

A discovery made in Frontovoye-3 necropolis in Crimea shows that during the Roman Empire there were more centers of glass...

4,400 Years Old Shaman Snake Staff Found in Finland

29 June 2021

29 June 2021

A very well-preserved 4,400-year-old Shaman Snake Staff made of wood has been found in Finland. The “Snake Staff” found is...

The 4,500-year-old Wisconsin canoe was built around the same time that Stonehenge was being constructed

31 May 2024

31 May 2024

Historians from Wisconsin have reported the amazing finding of at least eleven prehistoric canoes in Lake Mendota, which is close...