An ancient Roman laundry with a mosaic floor was discovered just steps from the Vatican, in the very center of Rome. The discovery was made during the construction of an underground pedestrian crossing, which will open for the Vatican anniversary next year.
Previously, the emperor’s residence was located in this area. The builders excavated a corridor with rooms on the sides.
Archaeologists say that in ancient times the building was converted into a fullonica – that is, a laundry, which is quite unusual.
In the rooms there are recesses in which clothes were washed. Moreover, the ancient Romans used urine for this. Ammonia bleaches things well. Fullons – laundry workers – trampled clothes under their feet, and then rinsed them in water with clay to wash off the grease.
The ruins of the ancient Roman structure will be removed and placed elsewhere so that builders can continue work.
In addition to the remains of the building, archaeologists also found fragments of ancient Roman pottery.
