Rising at the northeast end of the Imperial Palace is a Castellum Aquae (water distribution cistern) in opus mixtum, from the Age of Trajan (98-117 AD), organized on three levels: a large service environment, still accessible, is located on the ground floor, while the first and second storeys were occupied by cisterns. Behind, there is a second, two-storey cistern from the Age of Hadrian (117-138 AD). The structures were reused during the Middle Ages (12th – 15th centuries AD), as shown by the presence of pottery and animal bones discovered during an assay on the first storey.
Interior of the cistern from the Age of Hadrian, clearly showing the marks left by the wooden boards used for the foundations
(Portus Project)
Upper level of the cistern from the Age of Hadrian
(Portus Project)
Corinthian capital during excavation
(Portus Project)
Overview of the cistern
(Portus Project)
The capital discovered during the 2009 excavations at the Cistern
(E. Gasparini Portus Project)
Late Antique burial in the upper level of the cistern from the Age of Hadrian, during excavation
(photo: Portus Project)
Brick column base, located on the northern face of the cistern
(photo: Portus Project)
Upper level of the cistern from the Age of Hadrian
(photo: Portus Project)
Detail of the foundation of the cistern from the Age of Hadrian, with parts of the formwork’s wood still conserved
(photo: Portus Project)