Researchers from Pablo de Olavide University (UPO) have uncovered what may be the oldest documented structure ever identified at Hadrian’s Villa near Rome, shedding new light on the origins of the vast imperial complex built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
The discovery was made during a new archaeological campaign conducted between April and May at the Palazzo sector of the UNESCO World Heritage site in Tivoli, Italy. The excavation was carried out by UPO’s Archaeology Seminar in collaboration with the Institute of Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este.
The findings include a subterranean structure dating to the Republican era, predating the construction of Hadrian’s imperial residence in the second century AD. Archaeologists believe the newly discovered remains may belong to an earlier villa later incorporated into the foundations of the Palazzo.
The research project at Hadrian’s Villa has been led continuously by UPO since 2003 under the direction of Professor Rafael Hidalgo.
According to the research team, the most significant discovery of the latest campaign was the excavation of a hypogeum — an underground chamber likely used as a silo or storage space. The chamber appears to have been abandoned and partially filled during the Republican period with construction debris and ceramic materials.
Archaeologists say the structure could represent the earliest architectural evidence yet discovered at Hadrian’s Villa.
Among the recovered materials were architectural terracotta decorations featuring animal motifs, along with a variety of ceramic fragments. Researchers describe the deposit as the only securely identified archaeological context from the Republican period found so far within the villa complex.
The excavation also expanded knowledge of the elaborate gardens surrounding the Palazzo, one of the most important residential areas of Hadrian’s Villa.
Work carried out in one of the peristyles confirmed that the garden once featured a perimeter flowerbed arranged with densely packed rows of ceramic pots surrounding the courtyard. Researchers believe the design allowed gardeners to rotate flowering plants seasonally by replacing pots as blooms faded.
The findings provide new insight into the sophisticated landscaping techniques employed within the imperial residence, where gardens played a central role in both aesthetics and daily life.
The team also identified a series of carefully arranged tree pits intended for planting shrubs and trees, indicating a highly organised garden layout integrated with the surrounding monumental architecture.
The latest discoveries build upon results from previous excavation campaigns, during which researchers uncovered an exceptional collection of intact ceramic flowerpots in the same area of the Palazzo.
The excavation involved academics, researchers and students from several institutions, including the University of London’s Institute of Classical Studies, the National University of Distance Education, the University of Córdoba, the University of Murcia and Roma Tre University.
Hadrian’s Villa, constructed during the reign of Emperor Hadrian in the second century AD, is regarded as one of the most important archaeological complexes of the Roman world and remains one of Italy’s most significant UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Sources : Pablo de Olavide University
