ROME — Archaeologists working on the Palatine Hill here this summer excavated parts of sixth-century B.C. foundations connected to a sanctuary of a cult that ancient sources trace back to Romulus, Rome’s mythic founder — a rare find from such an early period.

The discovery, archaeologists say, will probably lead to further exploration for even more ancient elements of the sanctuary, called the Curiae Veteres. The remains came to light during a continuing dig of the northeast slope of the hill. The most recent phase of the dig ended last month.

Excavations in Rome have not recovered much from the sixth century B.C., though the city was already an important center then, said Antonio Ferrandes, deputy director of the dig, which was led by La Sapienza University of Rome. “Our archaeological knowledge is very limited” regarding the period, he said.

The Curiae Veteres was among the most important buildings of that time, a place where Romans assembled to worship, and one of the points that defined the Romulean city. Ancient sources recount the tradition that Romulus, said to have founded Rome in 753 B.C., divided the population into 30 curiae, or neighborhoods, much like today’s boroughs.