Ruins of ancient villa reveal ‘violent destruction’ during Roman siege on rebel city

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Recent excavations at the oldest villa in the region, and a Roman military camp outside the city, suggest the attack destroyed the ancient city’s livelihood so badly that the area remained uninhabited for more than 170 years. The villa – located about 100km from Rome – was built 80 years before Fregellae’s siege around 205 BC, and is the oldest structure of its kind uncovered in the region, archaeologists say. Archaeological excavation in ancient Fregellae uncovered region’s oldest known villa The excavation at the site is providing fresh insights into rural life and economic activities of inhabitants of the region at the time, they say. Analyses of seeds and plant remains provide information on cultivation and trade of wine Scientists also assessed the ruins of the Roman military camp on the outskirts of the ancient city.