Photo: beniculturali.gov.it
The newly discovered “commander’s house” was found while digging Rome’s Metro C subway line. It dates back to the 2nd century.
Nowadays, archaeologists get involved at construction sites early, especially if there’s a suspicion of buried culture deep down. It must be frustrating for builders to delay a project when something of historical significance is unearthed, but I like to think that some builders (or perhaps some low-level workers) find it exciting to be part of history. I like to imagine that once in a while an inspired worker goes back to school and becomes an archaeologist.
In Rome, a subway project first revealed unexpected treasure in 2016. Elena Goukassian has a report at Hyperallergic.
“In the summer of 2016, while digging the new Metro C subway line in Rome, workers came across a rare archeological find, a 2nd-century CE Roman barracks. [More recently] archeologists uncovered the remains of a ‘commander’s house’ (domus) connected to the barracks, ‘the first discovery of its kind in the Italian capital,’ according to the Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA).
“Complete with marble floors, mosaics, and frescoes, the Hadrian-era house was found [roughly 39 feet] under the Amba Aradam station, close to the Basilica of San Giovanni Laterano. …
“Measuring 300 square meters (~3,200 square feet), the house contains 14 separate rooms, including a ‘bathhouse with underfloor heating.’
“The house will be dismantled piece by piece and temporarily moved, before returning to its original location and incorporated into the new metro station, which ‘will surely become the most beautiful metro station in the world,” [the head of Rome’s monuments authority, Francesco Prosperetti] told reporters.”
Great pictures at Hyperallergic, here.
Who wouldn’t love the mosaic owl discovered under a subway line in Italy?
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
Fascinating!!
Who knows what other treasures are under the ground we walk on every day. Well, nothing from the Romans, I know, but from indigenous people and settlers.
Very true!! It all has a story!!
That’s awesome! What a find!
It must have been cool to be the first to realize what might be buried there.
What a beautiful reminder about history and art and culture (and the ongoing human phenomenon of war…) I am amazed both by how deep it was and also how extensive it was — “Complete with marble floors, mosaics, and frescoes, the Hadrian-era house was found [roughly 39 feet] under the Amba Aradam station.” I wonder how so much earth/ground accumulated on top of it in the past 2000 years?
Ha! You are making me ponder the 39 feet. Will my house be completely buried in the same amount of time? How does that really happen?
So interesting. Love commander’s mosaic ;)- thank you for posting
So much left to discover on this planet!
Yes, Lol. Thats the truth. Such wonder , no matter where you look
It must be especially difficult for contractors in a place like Rome, with such a long history and artifacts everywhere.