The huge stone pool discovered by Gabi –

A huge stone basin of unknown purpose was discovered at the ancient ruins of Gabi, 11 miles east of Rome. Most date to around 250 BC, but there is evidence that some parts were built at an earlier date. It is one of the earliest examples of Roman monumental architecture that was not a temple or a defensive wall.

Mojeta, chair of the Department of Classics, Archeology and Religion at the University of Missouri, said monumental architecture is more than just realism; it is also a powerful tool for political expression.

“This discovery gives us a rare glimpse into how early Romans experimented with urban planning,” he said. “Its location – in the heart of the city, close to a major crossroads – suggests it may have been a vast pool, part of an urban forum, or the center of public life in a Roman town. Because archaeologists still don’t fully understand what the early Roman forum actually looked like, Gabi provides a valuable window into its development.”

The ancient city of Gabe was one of Rome’s main rivals during the reigns of the early kings. By the 5th century BC, Gabi had become a close ally of the Roman Republic. It declined in the 1st century BC and was largely abandoned by 50 BC. During the Roman Empire it was repopulated on a much smaller scale, but with almost no new buildings, and all mention of it in historical records ceases after the 3rd century.

No modern city was built on it and the land lay idle for thousands of years, so excavations were able to reveal the original street layout and building foundations from its earliest days. This makes Gabi a unique source of archaeological evidence of how Latin cities developed in the first century B.C.

Next summer, Gabi Project archaeologists will continue to excavate what has accumulated over time in and around the basin — which includes a large area paved with stone. In the future, they also plan to investigate mysterious “anomalies” near the basin. Initial thermal imaging scans suggested it might be a temple or other type of large civilian structure.

“If it was a temple, it could help us explain some of the artifacts we found in the basin’s discarded layers, such as complete vessels, lamps, perfume containers and cups with unusual markings,” Mojita said. “Some of these items may have been placed there intentionally as religious offerings, or discarded during the pool closing rituals around AD 50, underscoring the key role water management played in ancient cities.”