After a year of careful excavation, Rome archaeologists have unveiled the remains of an ancient Roman workshop at Palazzo Corsini in the Trastevere neighborhood.
The excavations at Palazzo Corsini. Image by Alexandra Bruzzese
Maintenance staff hit upon the remarkably well-preserved site by sheer accident as they attempted to expand the grounds’ sprinkler system in early 2018. The space quickly revealed itself to be a veritable treasure trove of artefacts that illustrate everyday life in ancient times: terracotta bowls, kitchenware, pots, and glazed ceramics along with the sprawling kiln they were made with have all been unearthed. Additional discoveries include lamps and hair clips fashioned out of bone and a passage covered in brick that most likely facilitated the flow of water from the Janiculum Hill into Trastevere. A nearby stockpile of amphoras, or earthen containers, probably used to transport oil and for water drainage, was also found.
Some of the earthenware uncovered during the dig. Image by Alexandra Bruzzese
Experts theorize that the remarkably well-preserved workshop dates back about 2000 years, showing a “continuum of four, five centuries.” They describe the find as “unique,” astonished that the complex has remained intact and undetected for so many centuries in an area that has been repeatedly occupied since ancient times.
An overview of the dig. Image by Alexandra Bruzzese
The artefacts discovered will go on display at the science academy Accademia dei Lincei, (located on the grounds of Palazzo Corsini) and can be viewed with a guided tour. Archaeologists have confirmed that the excavation site, meanwhile, will eventually be filled in again to protect it from the elements. The surrounding area, perhaps also bearing hidden relics, is set to be excavated as well.
Some of the artefacts uncovered in Rome. Image by Alexandra Bruzzese
This isn’t the first time – and certainly won’t be the last – that mundane maintenance work has uncovered archaeological marvels in Rome. In August, utility workers laying cables stumbled across a buried four-room structure, theorised to date back to as early as the first century AD. Some experts believe the find could be one of Rome’s earliest churches. A few months later murals by Italian futurist Giacomo Balla once thought lost were discovered under layers of wallpaper during a building renovation.
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