24 June 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Submerged Roman structure of concentric walls discovered on Italy’s western coast

Archaeologists have recently uncovered a significant Roman-era structure submerged near the coastline of Campo di Mare on Italy’s western coast.

This discovery is part of a broader three-year program aimed at excavating and preserving the remnants of ancient Roman architecture that have succumbed to the sea over time.

In 2021, the area had already been the scene of discovering a Cipollino marble column with its Ionic capital. It was linked to a circular structure about 50 meters in diameter that is completely underwater, a few meters from the coast.

Experts believe it to be a maritime pavilion belonging to a Roman villa, whose extent and complexity are yet to be uncovered.

This ancient site, located in Campo di Mare, offers a fascinating glimpse into the Roman aristocracy’s luxurious lifestyles and the time’s advanced construction techniques.


One of the walls of the structure. Photo: Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale
One of the walls of the structure. Photo: Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale

The Roman pavilion features a double belt of brick walls, separated by about three meters and founded on a clay layer. This clay foundation has preserved the wooden formwork and numerous foundation posts.

The walls, notable for their thickness, are constructed with a double layer of triangular bricks containing pebbles and mortar, connected by bipedal bricks. This construction method reflects advanced engineering and resilience against the harsh marine environment.

Walls of the submerged structure. Photo: Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale
Walls of the submerged structure. Photo: Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale

The structure preserves opus signinum coatings and opus spicatum pavements. Opus signinum was primarily used for its waterproofing properties in structures like baths, aqueducts, and cisterns. In the center, fragments of opus sectile pavement were found, indicating the richness and elegance of the construction. Opus sectile is a decorative technique using cut and inlaid materials to create intricate designs, often found in luxurious settings.

A press release from the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale states that the pavilion’s architectural features highlight its significance in relation to Roman villa architecture. The extensive use of opus sectile and opus signinum, as well as the presence of opus spicatum, demonstrate the sophisticated building methods and aesthetic sensibilities of the time.

These components imply that the pavilion was an opulent and representative feature of the Roman villa, reflecting the occupants’ considerable wealth. The site’s strategic and prestigious location is further validated by its proximity to the historic Via Aurelia road.

Another view of the submerged structure. Photo: Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale

The Underwater Archaeology Service of the Superintendency carried out the project, with support from the company CSR Restauro Beni Culturali for the cleaning and restoration of the structures.

The company CSR Restauro Beni Culturali assisted with the restoration, while the Diving Unit of the Naval Station of Civitavecchia of the Guardia di Finanza provided crucial support during the operations. The Municipality of Cerveteri and the Port Authority of Civitavecchia facilitated the interdiction of the work areas for the safety and efficiency of the restoration efforts.

One of the significant findings within the structure includes opus spicatum flooring, a type of masonry where bricks are laid in a herringbone pattern. Photo: Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale
One of the significant findings within the structure includes opus spicatum flooring, a type of masonry where bricks are laid in a herringbone pattern. Photo: Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale

Future geophysical surveys are planned in collaboration with the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). These surveys aim to provide a thorough examination of the site and ensure its protection from relentless coastal erosion.

Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale

Cover Photo: Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale

Related Articles

Netherlands’s unique treasure finds of medieval gold jewelry and silver coins

12 March 2023

12 March 2023

The Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (the National Museum of Antiquities) in the Netherlands has announced that a unique treasure of 1000-year-old...

New rune discovery in Oslo

16 February 2022

16 February 2022

For the third time in a month and a half, archaeologists have found a new rune in Oslo. The artifact...

New discoveries found under demolished historic Tawfiq Pasha Andraos Palace in Egypt

31 October 2021

31 October 2021

An Egyptian archaeological mission excavating at the site of the recently demolished Tawfiq Pasha Andraos Palace discovered a number of...

3D Scans reveal details of ‘unusual’ Roman burial ritual

6 June 2023

6 June 2023

Archaeologists at the University of York, have used 3D scans to study the Roman burial practice of pouring liquid gypsum...

1,400-year-old temple from the time of the East Anglian Kings discovered at Suffolk royal settlement

21 November 2023

21 November 2023

Archaeologists have uncovered a possibly pre-Christian temple from the time of the East Anglian Kings at Rendlesham, near Sutton Hoo...

Research Team Identifies Oldest Bone Spear Point In The Americas

3 February 2023

3 February 2023

A team of researchers has identified the Manis bone projectile point as the oldest weapon made of bone ever found...

Göbeklitepe Monolith will be Exhibited in the United Nations

15 May 2021

15 May 2021

A copy of one of the famous ruins of Göbeklitepe, known as the oldest temple in the world, will be...

A new chapter in the Hittite world is revealed by painted hieroglyphs discovered in the Hattusa Yerkapı tunnel

30 April 2024

30 April 2024

The painted hieroglyphs discovered in 2022 in the Yerkapı Tunnel in Hattusa, the capital of the Hittites, one of the...

Rare ivory plaques from First Temple Period were discovered in Jerusalem

8 September 2022

8 September 2022

An extraordinary find was made in Jerusalem: an assemblage of ivory plaques from the First Temple period, one of only...

The colored skeletons of Çatalhöyük provide insight into the burial rituals of a fascinating society that lived 9000 years ago

18 March 2022

18 March 2022

New research provides new insights into how the inhabitants of the “oldest city in the world” in Çatalhöyük (Turkey) buried...

Who will solve the puzzle of Bronze Age tin? Origin of tin ingots from Uluburun shipwreck disputed – the metal may have come from Cornwall

3 October 2023

3 October 2023

The exact origin of tin in the Bronze Age is the Holy Grail of archaeometallurgists: For 150 years, experts have...

Palau’s green pyramids: could be a geo-archaeological project

19 February 2022

19 February 2022

Archaeologists from Kiel University’s Institute for Ecosystem Research (CAU) and the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) studied the so-called “Pyramids of...

2,000-year-old unique luxury Roman villa with “underfloor heating” found in Germany

3 November 2022

3 November 2022

A luxury Roman villa with a thermal bath and underfloor heating has been unearthed in Kempten, Bavaria, one of the...

“Scythian golds” will be returned to Ukraine

15 November 2021

15 November 2021

The fate of the Scythian Golds, which were sent to be exhibited in the Allard Pierson Museum before the Russian...

Red lipstick dating back 3,600 years was discovered in Iran -the oldest ever found-

14 February 2024

14 February 2024

Archaeologists have discovered a small chlorite vial containing a deep red cosmetic preparation believed to be an ancient type of...