
Sprawling ruins of the 2,000-year-old luxury villa of a Roman military commander have been unearthed during work to expand the Italian capital's subway system.

Archaeologists working on Rome's Metro C line uncovered the second century AD residence, or domus, adjoining a military barracks excavated in 2016.

The richly decorated dwelling is complete with a well-preserved geometric design mosaic, marble floors and frescoed walls.

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Sprawling ruins of the second-century home of a Roman military commander have been unearthed during work to expand the Italian capital's subway system. The residence, or domus, was found 40 feet (12 metres) below the city's surface. It includes at least 14 rooms and a fountain in a central courtyard. One of the rooms appears to have been heated

Government official have described the find as 'an 'astounding archaeological construction site.' The richly decorated dwelling is complete with a well-preserved geometric design mosaic, marble floors and frescoed walls

Government official Francesco Prosperetti, special superintendent for the Colosseum, the National Roman Museum and the archaeological area of ​​Rome, described the find as an 'astounding archaeological construction site.'

The domus, found 40 feet (12 metres) below the city's surface, includes at least 14 rooms and a fountain in a central courtyard. One of the rooms appears to have been heated.

Foundations for a separate structure of around the same size but with a more spartan interior were uncovered at around the same depth. Experts think it was probably used as a warehouse.

Archaeologists at the site say they were surprised by the find, as well as how well it had been preserved.

Speaking to the New York Times, Simona Morretta said: 'We didn’t imagine that we’d find a house with a central courtyard.

'The decorations were mainly intact, both the patterned mosaic floors and the frescoed walls.

'We have four more metres to excavate. We have no idea what we will find.'

The walls of the domus were around five feet (1.5 metres) tall and the rooms were found filled with dirt.

Archaeologists at the site say they were surprised by the find, as well as how well it had been preserved. They have four more metres to excavate and have no idea what else they will uncover

The walls of the domus were around five feet (1.5 metres) tall and the rooms were found filled with dirt. Researchers believe the home was intentionally buried in the third century, just prior to Roman Emperor Aurelian started construction work on walls build to protect the city in 271 AD

Researchers believe the home was intentionally buried in the third century, just prior to Roman Emperor Aurelian started construction work on walls build to protect the city in 271 AD.

The excavation work also unearthed rare wooden artefacts. This included wooden forms of a type similar to those used to this day to lay and build foundations, as well as wooden beams.

Experts says that the unique finds were uncovered thanks to the unusually deep digging taking place for the Metro system

The ruins and the buried treasures they contained will now be moved elsewhere, and temporarily preserved in special containers, so tunnelling can continue.

The excavation work also unearthed rare wooden artefacts. This included wooden forms of a type similar to those used to this day to lay and build foundations, as well as wooden beams.

Experts says that the unique finds were uncovered thanks to the unusually deep digging taking place for the Metro system. The ruins and the buried treasures they contained will now be moved elsewhere, and temporarily preserved in special containers, so tunnelling can continue

They will be returned to their former glory on the site to form the centrepiece of the Amba Aradam station, scheduled to open in 2022

WHAT HAVE EXCAVATIONS FOR ROME'S METRO C LINE SUBWAY UNCOVERED SO FAR? Work to build new stops on Rome's Metro C line is running years behind schedule, with interruptions to excavate ancient ruins behind some of the setbacks. Currently 21 of 24 stations along the new route, which links the city centre to an area east of Rome, are operational. Among the finds made so far is the luxurious second century AD villa, or domus, of a Roman military commander, uncovered in March, 2018. The richly decorated dwelling is complete with a well-preserved geometric design mosaic, marble floors and frescoed walls. In May, 2016, culture ministry officials showed reporters where work on the city's third subway line unearthed barracks for Roman Praetorian guards dating back to the period of Emperor Hadrian, in the second century AD. The barracks, which adjoin the military commander's residence, was discovered around 30 feet (nine metres) below street level and cover 9,600 square feet (900 square metres). They include a long hallway and 39 rooms decorated with black-and-white mosaics on the floors and frescoed walls. Researchers also found a collective grave at the barracks, where they have so far discovered 13 adult skeletons along with a bronze coin and a bronze bracelet. In 2014, archaeologists found the remains of an ancient commercial farm near St. John in Lateran Basilica during work on the subway. The dig revealed a three-pronged pitchfork, storage baskets, leather fragments that may have been from a farmhand's glove or shoe, and tracks carved into stone from the repeated turning of a waterwheel. This agricultural business dated back to the first-century, the researchers estimated. They also found peach pits, along with well-preserved vestiges of willow and other tree roots and stumps. Advertisement

They will be returned to their former glory on the site to form the centrepiece of the Amba Aradam station, scheduled to open in 2022.

Work to build new stops on Rome's Metro C line is running years behind schedule, with interruptions to excavate ancient ruins behind some of the setbacks. Bureaucracy and construction scandals have also caused long delays.

Currently 21 of 24 stations along the new route, which links the city centre to an area east of Rome, are operational.

In May, 2016, culture ministry officials showed reporters where work on the city's third subway line unearthed barracks for Roman Praetorian guards dating back to the period of Emperor Hadrian, in the second century AD.

The barracks, discovered around 30 feet (nine metres) below street level, cover 9,600 square feet (900 square metres) and include a long hallway and 39 rooms decorated with black-and-white mosaics on the floors and frescoed walls.

Archaeologists working on Rome's Metro C line uncovered the second century AD residence, or domus, adjoining a military barracks excavated in 2016

Work to build new stops on Rome's Metro C line is running years behind schedule, with interruptions to excavate ancient ruins behind some of the setbacks

Bureaucracy and construction scandals have also caused long delays. Currently 21 of 24 stations along the new route, which links the city centre to an area east of Rome, are operational

Archaeologists also found a collective grave at the barracks, where they have so far discovered 13 adult skeletons along with a bronze coin and a bronze bracelet.

The Praetorian Guard, who are thought to have once lived among these barracks, were prestigious military troops established by the second century BC.

They were household troops of the Roman emperors and acted as bodyguards to generals. Praetorian Guards served notable figures including Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

Over the years, the legion evolved greatly to one day become a powerful political force. In the year 312 AD, the Praetorian Guard was disbanded by Constantine I.

In May, 2016, culture ministry officials showed reporters where work on the city's third subway line unearthed barracks for Roman Praetorian guards dating back to the period of Emperor Hadrian, in the second century AD. Pictured above, an archaeologist checks human bones at the barracks on Monday, May 16, 2016

The barracks, discovered around 30 feet (nine metres) below street level, cover 9,600 square feet (900 square metres) and include a long hallway and 39 rooms decorated with black-and-white mosaics on the floors and frescoed walls

Archaeologists also found a collective grave at the barracks, where they have so far discovered 13 adult skeletons along with a bronze coin and a bronze bracelet

The discovery isn't the only instance in which construction on the city's public transit ran into this kind of obstacle.

In 2014, archaeologists found the remainders of an ancient commercial farm near St. John in Lateran Basilica during work on the subway.

The dig revealed a three-pronged pitchfork, storage baskets, leather fragments that may have been from a farmhand's glove or shoe, and tracks carved into stone from the repeated turning of a waterwheel.

This agricultural business dated back to the first-century, the researchers estimated. They also found peach pits, along with well-preserved vestiges of willow and other tree roots and stumps.

The Praetorian Guard, who are thought to have once lived among these barracks, were prestigious military troops established by the second century BC. They were household troops of the Roman emperors and acted as bodyguards to generals. Praetorian Guards served notable figures including Julius Caesar and Mark Antony