Hidden underground chamber revealed beneath home of legendary Roman emperor

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Archaeologists recently uneartheda hidden chamber beneath an estate tied to one of ancient Rome’s most famous emperors — and they say it could be the oldest known structure at the site.

The discovery, made at Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, Italy, was recently announced by Pablo de Olavide University (UPO), a university in Seville, Spain.

The imperial villa was once home toEmperor Hadrian, who ruled Rome from 117 to 138 A.D.

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The emperor is best known for building Hadrian’s Wall in northern Britain and traveling throughout the Roman Empire during his reign.

The sprawling imperial complex is now preserved as aUNESCO-listed sitethat draws visitors — and archaeologists — from across the globe.

Split image of visitors at site, depiction of Hadrian in drawing

Archaeologists say a newly discovered underground chamber at Hadrian’s Villa could be the oldest structure ever identified at the historic site.(Mauro Flamini/Reda &Co/Universal Images Group via Getty Images;Culture Club via Getty Images)

At the villa, archaeologists found an underground structure that dates back to theRoman Republic period, which spanned from 509 B.C.to 27 B.C.— centuries before Hadrian took power.

The abandoned structure, which officials believe may have been used as a silo or storage facility, was partially filled in with ancient construction debris and ceramic materials.

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The find “could prove to be the oldest structure ever identified at Hadrian’s Villa,” officials said.

Much of that earlier complex was destroyed during construction of the emperor’s sprawling villa, leaving archaeologists with few clues about its history.

Split image of Hadrian depiction, archaeologists digging at site

The discovery could represent the oldest known structure identified at Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, Italy, say researchers.(Hulton Archive via Getty Images;Pablo de Olavide University)

“The discovery is particularly significant because it is associated with a villa that predated Hadrian’s imperial residence and was later partially incorporated into the construction of the Palazzo,” the statement added.

It was surprising to see that the structure was not completely filled with soil, said Rafael Hidalgo, director of the Palazzo Project at Hadrian’s Villa.

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�s interior.They found objects that “provide highly valuable information for understanding the history of Hadrian’s Villa,” he said in an email translated from Spanish to English.

“The recovery of a significant assemblage of archaeological materials from inside the structure … will allow us, once the ongoing study is completed, to propose a date for this archaeological context,” he said.

“We have relatively little information about this earlier villa because much of it was destroyed by Emperor Hadrian.”

“That will be ofgreat importancein establishing the chronology of the earlier villa and determining the period during which it was occupied.”

Archaeologists found several ceramic pieces along with architectural terracottas that once lined the roof of a nearby building.

Several of the terracottas featured canine heads, while one depicted a bull’s head.

Hidalgo said the structure is in “excellent condition,” especially its vaulted roof, which is relatively fragile and typically collapses.

Archaeologists sorting through ceramics at dig site

Ongoing analysis of the chamber’s contents is expected to shed new light on the history of the earlier Roman villa.(Pablo de Olavide University)

The roof “was perfectly preserved,” he said.

“Even on the inner surface of the vault, the impressions left by the wooden centering — the timber framework used during construction — are still clearly visible,” said Hidalgo.

“These supported the opus caementicium [or] Roman concrete, as it was poured to create the vault.”

The archaeologist said the discovery helps fill a longstanding gap in what experts know about the villa that existed before Hadrian’s.

View of Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, Italy

Hadrian’s Villa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts visitors from all over the world, continues to yield archaeological discoveries beneath its ancient grounds.(Getty Images)

“We have relatively little information about this earlier villa because much of it was destroyed by Emperor Hadrian during the construction of his own complex,” Hidalgo said.

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The find adds to a growing list of underground archaeological discoveries that provide insight into ancient Rome.

Earlier this year, Italian officials unveiled the remains of an ancient Roman villa discoveredbeneath a high school gymnear Rome’s Colosseum.

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Last summer, excavations for Rome’s Metro Line C led archaeologists to uncover amulti-story apartment buildingdating back to the first century B.C.