Welcome to the
Aventinus Minor Project
A Community Archaeological Project
in the Center of Rome
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What Is the Aventinus Minor Project?
The Aventinus Minor Project (AMP) is a community-focused archaeological project launched in 2019. Our team of international academic and professional specialists conducts academically rigorous and culturally engaged archaeological research and excavations. ​
The high school students at St. Stephen’s School and the students at The American University of Rome are central to our archaeological research, excavation, conservation, and publication. We ground their work in pedagogical methods of experiential learning and project management.​
Our goal is to center the community in our research. We share our progress and results with neighbors, students, businesses, and the convalescent residents of Istituto Santa Margherita, welcoming them to the site whenever possible. We aim to use community history and material culture to build an intergenerational and international dialogue, sharing materials in both Italian and English.
"The Aventinus Minor is considered one of the pivotal hills in Rome. It contained the first circuit of city walls, Roman houses, warehouses, baths, storage rooms, one of the earliest Christian churches, and medieval vineyards… Especially as it had not yet been systematically excavated, we have the possibility of a long stratigraphic sequence."
"It is the perfect partnership of local involvement of the community, the international high school, as well as researchers and archaeological students.”
Prof. Elizabeth Wueste,
Director of the Aventinus Minor Project
Where Is the Aventinus Minor Archaeological Site?
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The Aventinus Minor Project is located in an understudied area of the Aventinus Minor hill in Rome’s contemporary San Saba neighborhood.
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The archeological site is in the garden owned by the Instituto Santa Margherita, a Catholic convalescent home housed in the convent of Basilica Santa Balbina. We are excited to partner with Instituto Santa Margherita and St. Stephen’s School, whose sports courts border our site.
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The Aventine Hill is associated with the earliest myths of Rome’s foundation. Cartographic and topographic work indicates that the area contains a portion of the Republican Servian Wall, as well as an Imperial house belonging to Lucius Fabius Cilo, consul in 193 and 204 CE, and the early Christian basilica of Santa Balbina.
Our archaeological evidence suggests that the area changed from a residential to a religious to an agricultural area, attesting to the long and multi-layered history of Rome in our little plot.
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