Archaeologists uncover possible death site of Roman Empire’s founder

Archaeologists from the University of Tokyo believe they have located the site where Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus, the founder of the Roman Empire, died. Their discovery was made at Somma Vesuviana, close to Naples, Italy, where historical records suggest Augustus passed away in 14 AD.

The site in question is thought to be the Villa of Augustus, a luxurious first-century estate constructed on the northern slopes of Mount Vesuvius. This area was known as a retreat for Rome’s elite, who built expansive villa complexes here. The villa is believed to have been entombed under layers of volcanic ash and molten lava following the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, an event that famously devastated Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Initial excavations in 1930 within the Nola region unearthed a significant Roman villa, long thought to be Augustus’s Villa. Subsequent investigations since 2002 have continued to explore this site. A recent press release from the University of Tokyo highlighted the destructive impact of the AD 79 eruption even on the northern foothills of Vesuvius, which were previously thought to have suffered less damage compared to the mountain’s southeastern areas.

While the estate discovered in the 1930s was initially believed to be the villa, later assessments dated these remains to the second century AD, postdating the eruption. However, the latest excavations carried out by the Japanese team in 2023 have revealed traces of an earlier structure beneath the second-century ruins.

The archaeologists now believe this earlier building is the actual location where Emperor Augustus died, shedding new light on a historical site long shrouded in mystery.