Community
St. Stephen’s School is an international secondary school on the Aventine Hill and a long-time partner of the Aventinus Minor Project. They were the ones who originally approached us to inform us that the field behind their sports courts, belonging to the Istituto Santa Margherita, could be interesting to excavate. This dig is in their backyard, and students are able to learn about Rome hyper locally through our work together.
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Working with St. Stephen’s School has given us a unique opportunity to engage young scholars in archeological fieldwork. The students have been able to assist on-site with sifting, cleaning pottery and frescoes, and analyzing and labeling finds. While we were digging, students came to the site each day to follow our work and assist when possible. Safety laws prevent them from actively digging in the trenches, but we collaborated with them everywhere we could.
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We have worked with St. Stephen’s each year to present our findings and an overview of archeological research, whether online during COVID or on-site when excavating. These lectures and hands-on activities not only taught foundational archeological coursework but also allowed the students to learn the long history of their corner of Rome.
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During our 2025 study season, the ninth-grade students researched special finds to present in an exhibition for their City of Rome course. Their students have been key contributors to our excavations and research.
"I was there when they found it, and I was the
one to wash it off. It’s so cool that I now
get to be the one researching it."
- St. Stephen’s Junior,
presenting an oil lamp
at the student exhibit
The Istituto Santa Margherita is a Catholic convalescent home for people who previously experienced homelessness. We could not have started this project without them, as they have given us permission to excavate on their property. Their garden is home to over 2,500 years of history that we were able to uncover for the Italian government.
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Residents from the Istituto Santa Margherita have been able to visit the site throughout our excavation seasons. We have been honored to share with them what we’ve found in their garden through tours and presentations.
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For residents unable to make it to the site, we created a ceramics and materials exhibition to contextualize the material culture of their garden and allow the residents to interact with the finds. There is evidence that the tactical stimulation from the artifacts can be beneficial for residents suffering from dementia.
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Every year, we leave a copy of our posters in Italian at the Istituto so residents know what we have accomplished and found.
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The Istituto Santa Margherita has generously given us access inside their buildings so we can follow the archeology, such as the Servian Walls and the Domus Cilonis, built into their walls.
Community Engagement
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At the end of each dig season, the AMP presents the results of that year’s research to the local community via presentations and posters in Italian and English. We also host Open Site days when community members from AUR, St. Stephen’s School, the Istituto Santa Margherita, and the general public can visit the site and learn about the archaeological finds we uncovered.
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In the winter of 2021, AMP and the “Cultural Heritage Management” class at AUR held a community cultural heritage exhibition dedicated to the San Saba neighborhood.
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Working with students from the American University of Rome and St. Stephen’s School in 2021, we led community service and neighborhood clean-up projects to weed, pick up trash, and clean the sidewalks around the site.
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In 2023, we sponsored field trips for IC Borgoncini middle school students to visit the site and spent time on their campus to teach them about our archaeological project, osteology, and photogrammetry.
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We also welcomed fifth graders from IC Leonardo da Vinci in 2024 to tour the excavation site. Tours, led by AMP staff and AUR students, included a history of the Aventine Hill, excavation and conservation techniques, and a presentation of interesting finds.
Soprintendenza Speciale Archeologia, Belle Arti, e Paesaggio di Roma and the Ministero della Cultura
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We are grateful to collaborate with Letizia Rustico, Roberto Narducci, and Mirella Serlorenzi who oversee the Rioni Ripa, San Saba Archeological Zone at the Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma.
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We work closely with them and the Ministry of Culture to plan, publish, and present our archeological research. By organizing together and sharing our information, we ensure that our research is accessible to the community and that all finds are safely returned to the Italian government.
How to Join AMP’s Rome Archaeology Project
Check back in to learn about future events and ways to get involved.
You can support our work here to ensure that our project continues to be accessible to the community.