Image Credit: Marcello Mogetta

Roman Water Basin Unearthed in Ancient City of Gabii

Archaeologists led by the University of Missouri have uncovered a massive stone-lined basin in Gabii, just 11 miles east of Rome. Built around 250 B.C., and possibly earlier, the structure is carved partly into bedrock and may represent one of the earliest examples of Roman monumental architecture outside temples and city walls.
Located at the city’s crossroads, the basin likely formed part of Gabii’s forum, the civic heart of Roman towns. The discovery offers a rare glimpse into early urban planning, revealing how Romans adapted lessons from Greek plazas and civic spaces to shape their own cities.
Because Rome’s earliest layers are buried, Gabii — abandoned by 50 B.C. — preserves original streets and foundations. This makes it an invaluable site for studying early Roman life. Excavations will continue next summer, exploring deposits inside the basin and a nearby anomaly that may be a temple or civic building.
Artifacts found in the basin, including lamps, vessels, and inscribed cups, hint at possible ritual activity linked to the pool’s closure around 50 C.E. Researchers hope these findings will reveal whether politics or religion played the leading role in shaping Rome’s first monumental spaces.

Published on: 16-10-2025

Source: University of Missouri