In March 2002 the ACEA Distribuzione Spa laid a new underground low tension electricity cable in via dei Fienili at the height of No’s 46-53. During this work the trench was carefully controlled by the SAR due to the particular historical-archaeological importance of the area.
The intervention lead to the identification of a road surface made up of terracotta fragments and earth. This surface had already emerged in several places, at depths varying between 0.45 and 0.70 m below present street level, during the excavation of trial trenches.
A coin, a quattrino of 1610 minted in Bologna, found lying directly on the road surface together with several fragments of Renaissance majolica, relating to forms and decorative motifs produced in Rome and the Arno valley between the second half of the 15th century and the last two thirds of the 16th century, which were removed from a layer in the trench section provide useful evidence for the road’s chronology. The road can be easily identified on Bufalini’s map of Rome (1551) and in the perspective views by G.B. Falda (1676) and A. Tempesta (1693).
The survival of the Renaissance road surface, which was hardly disturbed from the 16th century onwards, at only a slight depth below the modern road surface suggests that it is highly likely that earlier stratigraphy is conserved below it. The correct historical-topographical integration of evidence which is often given little attention during usual rescue excavation procedure confirms the substantial integrity of the area of via dei Fienili. Here the vast stratigraphy conserves its Renaissance character and is potentially at risk in archaeological terms as to date it has remained unscathed by demolition and levelling at least in this area (Oberdan Menghi).