Excavations at the Villa of Maxentius,

Romethe 2003 season

The University of Colorado/Kalamazoo College

archaeological excavation andstudent field school

in collaboration with theSovraintendenza Beni Culturali del Comune di

Roma

Aerial View of the Via Appia Antica

Entrance to the Villa of Maxentius Complex

Season living quarters at the Institute of San Tarcisio in the gated compound

of the Catacombs of St. Callistus

Roman Tomb of Caecilia Metella

Basilica and Catacombs of St. Sebastian

The Garden Restaurantprovides meals

for the excavation team

Circus of Maxentius

Villa proper on hill above circus and tomb

Tomb of Romulus

Appian Way

Aerial view of the Villa of Maxentius Complex

University of Colorado 2003 team members:

Diane Conlin,Rachel Kahn,Holly Scripter,

Noel Lenski(left to right)

The team is standing on the roof of the

Tomb of Romulus with the apse ofthe villa in the

distance.

The Apsidal Hall of the villa – this was the primary location for survey work in 2003

NW corner of the Tomb of Romulus

The northern edge of the chariot racing circus

Unexcavated portion of the villa

Plan of villa proper in the complex

General view of the apsidal hall in the villa proper

Close view of the remains of

the apse

The remains of the walls of the apsidal hall at the start

of the 2003 season.

The team prepares for the survey at the

entrance of the apsidal hall.

Clearing out the trenches excavated in the 1960s.

The apsidal hall trench after the 2003 clearing.

Students from Kalamazoo College and CU Boulder excavate

an ancient doorway to the apsidal hall.

The ancient doorway at the end of the

2003 season.

CU students Holly Scripter and Rachel Kahn take a break

at the nearby Tomb of Romulus.

At a marble yard in the center of Rome, students learn about

Roman construction methods and materials.

Back at the site, CU student Rachel Kahn discovers the remains of a

Roman lead pipe

A morning’s worth of finds: ancient pottery, marbles, roof tiles, Roman coins

and modern objects

CU student Rachel Kahn cleans out a ventilation tube from the Roman heating system in the apsidal hall

The 2003 CU Boulder/Kalamazoo College excavation team in front of the Circus of Maxentius