Excavations at the Villa of Maxentius, Rome the 2003 season The University of Colorado/Kalamazoo College archaeological excavation and student field school in collaboration with the Sovraintendenza Beni Culturali del Comune di Roma

Aerial View of the Via Appia Antica Entrance to the Villa of Maxentius Complex

Season living quarters at the Institute of San Tarcisio in the gated compound of the Catacombs of St. Callistus

Roman Tomb of Caecilia Metella Basilica and Catacombs of St. Sebastian

The Garden Restaurant provides meals for the excavation team

Circus of Maxentius Villa proper on hill above circus and tomb Tomb of Romulus Appian Way Aerial view of the Villa of Maxentius Complex

University of Colorado 2003 team members: Diane Conlin, Rachel Kahn, Holly Scripter, Noel Lenski (left to right) The team is standing on the roof of the Tomb of Romulus with the apse of the villa in the distance.

The Apsidal Hall of the villa – this was the primary location for survey work in 2003 NW corner of the Tomb of Romulus The northern edge of the chariot racing circus Unexcavated portion of the villa Plan of villa proper in the complex

General view of the apsidal hall in the villa proper

Close view of the remains of the apse

The remains of the walls of the apsidal hall at the start of the 2003 season.

The team prepares for the survey at the entrance of the apsidal hall.

Clearing out the trenches excavated in the 1960s.

The apsidal hall trench after the 2003 clearing.

Students from Kalamazoo College and CU Boulder excavate an ancient doorway to the apsidal hall.

The ancient doorway at the end of the 2003 season.

CU students Holly Scripter and Rachel Kahn take a break at the nearby Tomb of Romulus.

At a marble yard in the center of Rome, students learn about Roman construction methods and materials.

Back at the site, CU student Rachel Kahn discovers the remains of a Roman lead pipe

A morning’s worth of finds: ancient pottery, marbles, roof tiles, Roman coins and modern objects

CU student Rachel Kahn cleans out a ventilation tube from the Roman heating system in the apsidal hall

The 2003 CU Boulder/Kalamazoo College excavation team in front of the Circus of Maxentius