Ancient clue cracks open a 2,000-year-old mystery near famed Colosseum

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Archaeologists digging nearRome’s Colosseumbelieve they may have found an ancient firehouse dating back nearly 2,000 years.

The building, which dates to the second century A.D., was found in the Villa Celimontana park near the Colosseum, Reuters reported this month.

Villa Celimontana dates to the 16th century, when it was developed as a noble residence on Caelian Hill, one of the seven hills ofancient Rome.

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The discovery was originally announced by Rome’sarchaeological superintendency, part of Italy’s Ministry of Culture.

At the excavation site, archaeologists fully uncovered five of the building’s eight rooms, which contain mosaics and remnants of painted decorations.

Split image of aerial view of barracks, archaeologists next to painting of Rome burning

Archaeologists digging near Rome’s Colosseum believe they may have uncovered an ancient Roman firehouse dating back nearly 2,000 years.(Rome’s Special Superintendency/Handout via Reuters;Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

Officials believe the building may have been part of the nearby barracks of the Fifth Cohort of the Vigiles, ancient Rome’s firefighting force.

They cited one telling clue: A mosaic found at the site closely resembles one previously discovered in a firefighters’ barracks in Ostia, ancient Rome’s port city.

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The Vigiles were also tasked with maintaining public order at night, and their nearby barracks usedwater from an aqueduct.

“If this hypothesis is confirmed, the discovery would help reassess the extent of one of the most important military complexes of imperial Rome,” officials said in a statement.

Split image of painting of Rome burning, aerial view of ruined barracks

Officials believe the newly discovered structure may have been connected to the Fifth Cohort of the Vigiles, ancient Rome’s firefighting force.(Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images;Rome’s Special Superintendency/Handout via Reuters)

Pictures show the remains of the ancient building, including exposed walls and sections uncovered during the excavation.

Other images show fragments of mosaic uncovered at the site.

Another possibility, said officials, is that the structure was a private residence, or domus, similar to others found on Caelian Hill.

The elaborate decorations uncovered during the excavation have also raised the possibility that the structure was a private Roman residence.(Rome’s Special Superintendency/Handout via Reuters)

The elaborate decorations could support that hypothesis, officials said.

“Only a thorough study of the excavation materials and the structures exposed will provide further information on the newly discovered structure,” the superintendency said.

Aerial of intricate mosaic at ancient site

Archaeologists are investigating whether the second-century structure belonged to ancient Rome’s Vigiles or served as a private residence.(Rome’s Special Superintendency/Handout via Reuters)

The possible firehouse is the latest in a string of ancient Roman discoveriesto emerge across Italy in recent months.

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Archaeologists recently uncovered an ancient city along Italy’s famedAppian Way,complete with a forum and theater and dating back more than 2,000 years.

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Earlier this summer, officials announced another major archaeological discovery near the Colosseum — the remains of anancient Roman villafound beneath a high school gym.

Reuters contributed reporting.