Submerged Roman structure found in waters near Campo di Mare

Archaeologists from Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale have discovered a submerged Roman structure near Campo di Mare, on the west coast of Italy.

Previous studies carried out in 2021 revealed a cipollino marble column, leading to the discovery of a submerged circular structure measuring 50 meters in diameter.

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According to experts, it is a pavilion belonging to a Roman villa, the extent of which has not yet been discovered.

Excavations by the Superintendence's Underwater Archeology Service, in collaboration with the CSR Restauro Beni Culturali, identified two belts of brick walls built with a double layer of triangular bricks and mortar.

The team discovered opus spicatum (“spiked work”) flooring, a type of masonry construction of bricks laid in a herringbone pattern. In Roman times this pattern was mainly decorative and was generally used for paving, although it was also sometimes used as infill in walls.

Traces of opus signinum material have also been discovered, a form of Roman concrete using small pieces of broken pot, including amphorae, tiles or bricks. Opus signinum is primarily used for its waterproofing and resistance to moisture, where it was used in buildings such as Roman baths, aqueducts and cisterns.

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Archaeologists have not yet dated the structure, however, the trend of using opus signinum by the Romans began in the 1st century BC and was phased out by the 2nd century AD for patterned pavement styles.

According to a press release from the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale, the architectural elements suggest that the pavilion represents part of a luxurious Roman villa buried under the sand somewhere nearby.

Header image credit: Cultura.gov.it

Sources: Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio Etruria Meridionale

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