Ricerc@Sapienza

Still on going excavations of Sapienza University of Rome on the northern slopes of the Palatine bring to light complex stratifications (IX cent. BC?IV cent. AD). In this paper the results of 2015-2016 field campaign are presented and discussed. Thank to this new evidence, it is now possible to better define the changing landscape of the slope and in particular: a) the general topographical layout of the Palatine fortification wall running along the northern slope of the hill; b) the architectural development of a sacred area joint to the sanctuary of Vesta (an identification of the cult as that of Aius Locutius has been suggested) and to the House of the Vestal Virgins, from its foundation to the imperial age.