Preliminary Excavations in the Gardens of Hadrian's Villa: The Canopus Area and the Piazza d'Oro

Preliminary excavations in 1987–1988 in the Canopus area and in the Piazza d'Oro indicate that Hadrian's Villa contains much important evidence for our knowledge of ancient Roman gardens. On the west bank of the Canopus evidence was found of elaborate terraced gardens still covered with undisturbed soil and on the east bank a row of discarded amphoras was discovered. The amphoras had been cut in half and used as planting pots, giving significant information about the planting pattern. In the Piazza d'Oro a sloping tufa terrain with an insufficient soil covering for plants made it necessary for Hadrian to cut planting holes into the tufa; these were then filled with fertile soil. Large planting pits were found in 1987–1988 that appear to continue around the edge of the garden. In the bed on the west side of the euripus an intricate network of trenches cut to provide drainage for the planting beds was found, as well as smaller planting holes. Subsequent excavations made it possible to explain the unique irrigation system of this garden.