Ancient Rome continues to reveal new archaeological treasures. During excavation work for the construction of a student residence in Via Ostiense, in the San Paolo district, archaeologists have uncovered a remarkably well-preserved section of the ancient Ostiense Necropolis.
The discovery was made during preventive archaeological investigations coordinated by Rome’s Special Superintendency. According to Italy’s Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, the find represents an important testimony to the city’s history and will be protected, studied and enhanced without halting the student housing project.
The goal, the minister said, is also to make the site accessible to the public.
Excavations led by archaeologist Diletta Menghinello revealed, about one meter below ground level, a cluster of five imperial-era funerary buildings. The structures, which have square floor plans and vaulted roofs, are aligned along a north-east to south-west axis and preceded by two smaller buildings.
The presence of a sixth similar structure arranged perpendicular to the others suggests that the complex may have been organized around a central courtyard.
In the area closest to the road, archaeologists also uncovered an apsidal hall and a large room containing remains of mosaic flooring. The function of these spaces is still unclear, but the rich and layered context confirms the importance of the necropolis that developed along Via Ostiense between the late Republican period and the late Roman Empire.
According to Daniela Porro, Rome’s special superintendent for archaeology, the discovery once again highlights the extraordinary complexity of the city’s archaeological heritage, which continues to emerge even during modern urban development.
The Superintendency will ensure the protection of the site and launch a project to enhance and present the findings to the public.