The goal of the proposed research is twofold. On the one hand to carry on the stratigraphical excavation (on-going since 1985) over a large area on the southern slope of the Palatine, between the Imperial Palace and the Circus Maximus, on the other hand to begin new investigations on the northest corner of the Hill facing the Colosseum valley, aiming at the reconstruction of the changing urban landscapes in these parts of the ancient city since the Iron Age (10th c. b.c.e.) to Renaissance (16th c.). It is a very relevant topographical context of high heuristic potential. Such a continuity of activities and site occupation has confirmed this part of the ancient city an extremely intriguing case study, from an archaeological point of view, and an ideal sample to test and develop methods and strategies of collection and processing archaeological, architectural and topographical data over a large time span. The evidence collected up to now allowed ancient historians and scholars of antiquity as well to re-think problems related to the origins of the city and the history of roman institutions. It may be enough to mention the discovery of the Palatine Wall dating to 775-750 b.c.e., rebuilt until 530 b.c.e ca. and partially preserved as a marker in later urban landscape; the sanctuary of Vesta (mid 8th c. b.c.e.-Late Antiquity); royal and high priests (rex sacrorum and pontifex) residences (mid 8th c. b.c.e.-64 c.e.); a sanctuary (mid 8th c. b.c.e.-64 c.e.) to be possibly identified with the sanctuary of Jupiter Stator; the sanctuary of the Curiae Veteres; a section of the pre- and proto-urban settlement (11th-mid 8th c. b.c.e.) never attested over such a large area in Rome until now. Attention will be paid to historical documents (e.g. inscriptions), different classes of artefacts, biological remains in order to increase our knowledge of society, mass and market productions, building decoration as part of visual art, building techniques, alimentary habits and so forth.
Innovative research and possible progresses beyond the State of the Art are expected due to the above mentioned statements and according to the following remarks.
Area A.
This area had never been investigated in the past, but only subjected to a series of interventions (ditches, tunnels) in the Middle and modern Ages aimed at the recovery of building materials and valuables. Therefore all of our finds have so far been a novelty, revolutionizing our knowledge of the topography and architecture of this central area of the ancient city. Excavation in Sector II-III offers the possibility of adding essential
data for the reconstruction of cultural, economic and social aspects of the oldest Curiae Veteres (6th-8th c. b.c.e.), now known only indirectly through materials found in secondary layers in stratigraphy of the 5th and
4th b.c.e. Artefacts and decorations prove that the stratigraphy exposed in 2015 show the remains of buildings, but also of some rituals that will help understanding the organizational framework of the sanctuary
areas, and the historical and social scenarios that determined the creation, in Rome, of an unusual place of worship, associated with rites that confirmed the belonging to a specific civic body. An improvement on the
present situation will come from our commitment to give back the excavated area reorganized so as to make it understandable to visitors. Most of the excavations, even those of exceptional historical and
archaeological value, are often left to the decay of time, or reinterred on account of the inability to maintain them. Thanks to the contribution of specialists working with us on issues related to conservation and
development, we have produced a serie of ideas, which have been mainly accepted by the Soprintendenza Archeologica. On top of the contribution that the excavation has given to a deeper knowledge of three
millennia of urban history, it was decided that some of the key elements could be left visible and restored, considering both their degree of conservation and the uniqueness of some "signs". These features are mainly
found within the complex of Neronian/Flavian Curiae Veteres (Sections II and III), and within the horreum and the late-antique domus of the IV sector (so-called Terme di Elagabalo). These restorations will respect the
architectural and monumental layout of this portion of the Palatine, highlighting one single period of its complex evolution so as to offer, even to a casual visitor, a clear view of the major changes that affected this
urban landscape. Such actions will give back a set of well organized and easily readable ruins, instead of a jumble of parts and pieces from different, mixed up, periods.
Area B.
Previous researches on and around the Palatine have demonstrated that along the slopes of the Hill, rather than on top of it, thicker and more complex archaeological deposits are preserved. Thus, in such areas it is possible to gather the largest amount of information/evidence about the Roman settlement and landscape history. In the selected area of the southern slope, the research will allow for the first time a clear comprehension of any visible structure, of the original architectural complex and of the changing landscapes of the area between the Palatine and the Aventine Hill. Other than this, it would be possible to suggest e definite reconstruction of the middle and lower part of the House of Augustus.
At the beginning of last century this house has been definitivetly identified with the remains around the s.c. house of Livia, scalae Caci and Temple of Apollo. Later excavations carried on by G. Carettoni uncovered more substantial remains of a wider architectural complex. The results of these investigation has not been fully published yet, nor the uncovered remains have been fully documented in detail. Therefore relative and absolute cronology of different buinding phases and shape and extension of the overall Augustan complex are still debated issues, up to ten different reconstructions of this building has been suggested in the scholar debate until now.
The new excavation will allow us to understand the organization of the buildings of the imperial age that occupy this lot of the Palatine, to understand the times and the modalities of the frequentation and abandonment in the medieval and renaissance age and hopefully to gather information about the landscape of the republican, archaic and monarchic age, so far completely unknown.