Rome (Italy)

Definition: According to Roman tradition, the ancient capital of Rome on the Tiber River in Italy was founded in the year 754 BC by Romulus and Remus, twin sons of the god Mars. Archaeologists, those spoilsports, say evidence for the earliest occupation on the legendary Seven Hills dates to the 10th or 9th centuries BC, and was a simple farming village during the Neolithic period, and the Etruscans were there by the 7th century BC. Excavations in Rome have been undertaken by John Ward-Perkins, among others.

Sources

One good source on the archaeology of Rome is the website of the British School at Rome.

Lusnia, Susann S. 2004 Urban Planning and Sculptural Display in Severan Rome: Reconstructing the Septizodium and Its Role in Dynastic Politics. American Journal of Archaeology 108(4):517-544. Free download

Rose, Charles B. 2005 The Parthians in Augustan Rome. American Journal of Archaeology 109(1):21-76. Free download

Spera, Lucrezia 2003 The Christianization of Space along the Via Appia: Changing Landscape in the Suburbs of Rome. The Christianization of Space along the Via Appia: Changing Landscape in the Suburbs of Rome American Journal of Archaeology 107:23-43. Free download

Storey, Glenn R. 1999 Archaeology and Roman society: Integrating textual and archaeological data. Journal of Archaeological Research 7(3):203-248.

This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology.