Roman Forum Clues Surface
Archaeologists reported fresh discoveries at the Roman Forum this week that add new clues to Imperial‑era city planning and construction — another layer in ongoing research into Rome’s urban engineering and public spaces Archaeological Find: Clues to Roman Forum - techsciencetoday.
The pavement was uncovered beneath the Gran Hotel Barcino during expansion works that began with a preventive elevator‑shaft dig in July 2023. catalannews.com Archaeologists reported the paved area measures roughly 42 square metres and is laid with monumental Montjuïc stone slabs, some blocks up to 149×118 cm and between 18 and 35 cm thick. arkeonews.net Conservation teams dated the pavement to the colony’s founding decades, around 15–10 BC, placing the surface in the early Imperial period rather than a later phase. catalannews.com Field directors say the pavement’s orientation implies the forum was aligned along the decumanus (sea‑to‑mountain axis), a shift of roughly 90° from the longstanding reconstruction that placed the civic centre near the Palau de la Generalitat. catalannews.com The excavation expanded from an initial 6 m² inspection to about 80 m² after the find and revealed a hydraulic system plus more than a hundred fragments of imported marble alongside the paving. arkeonews.net Gargallo Hotels and the Barcelona Archaeology Service reached an agreement to preserve the remains in situ, with plans for the hotel to incorporate the site as a museum space and offer guided visits. barcelonasecreta.com
