All images © Submerged Archaeological Park of Baia, shared with permission
Around 100 B.C.E., wealthy Romans began building villas in the town of Baia, which sits on the Gulf of Naples. The region was considered superior to other outposts of the elite like Capri, Herculaneum, and Pompeii thanks to its relaxing, resort-like atmosphere and beautiful surroundings. It is also, however, in an area known in Italian as Campi Flegrei, or Phlegraean Fields, from the Greek meaning “burning earth.”
Baia’s nearby volcano is part of the Campanian volcanic arc, which includes Mount Vesuvius, the peak that erupted and shrouded Pompeii in ash in 79 C.E. Over time, the lower part of Baia gradually flooded through a volcanic process known a bradyseism, in which magma pushes up the surface of the earth.
Fast forward to 2002, and the Submerged Archaeological Park of Baia was established to preserve and study the area’s unique history. And an excavation this May uncovered a fantastic feature enjoyed predominantly these days by fishes: an ornate, multicolored marble floor at the base of a collapsed villa. “The building represents the largest space of the noble residence, characterized by the large semicircular apse at the back and by a surface area of over 250 square meters,” says a statement from the park, which believes the structure is from the 4th century.
To date the floor, archaeologists relied on clues like the type of building the mosaic was found in, how it was made, and what it was made of. The room where the marble was installed is typical of a great hall sometimes referred to as a “basilica” that became popular in noble residences at the end of the 3rd century. The material sourced for the design has also been repurposed, probably from other floors or walls, which results in uneven thicknesses.
Assembled in an “opus sectile” technique characterized by small pieces placed into precise geometries, the floor was first revealed during a storm in 2012. A formal excavation of the area didn’t start until this year because it needed to be meticulously planned. “The state of the slabs was very compromised, both due to their original fragmentation and to the action of the sea, which had detached them from the subfloor,” the park says.
Thanks to careful investigation, the team has so far uncovered a grid of squares about 60 centimeters on each side—two Roman feet—which were arranged in about 20 by 30 rows for a total of around 600. Explore more on the park’s website and Facebook, where you can keep track of updates about new finds.
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