Construction workers in Rome discover marble head

Construction workers in the historic centre of Rome have made an incredible discovery of a marble head likely to have belonged to a female divinity.

Tradies have unearthed a “splendid, intact” marble head during works in the historic centre of Rome.

The city’s mayor Roberto Gualtieri shared details of the incredible find, along with a photo, on Twitter.

“#Roma continues to return precious evidence of its past: a splendid intact marble head was found during the works in Piazza Augusto Imperatore supervised by @Sovrintendenza,” he wrote, referring to the organisation that manages, maintains and enhances the capital’s historic and archaeological heritage.

A ‘splendid intact’ marble head was discovered by construction workers during works for the ‘redevelopment of the Mausoleum of Augustus and Piazza Augusto Imperatore’. Picture: Twitter/gualtierieurope

“Archaeologists and restorers are busy cleaning and studying the find.”

Capitoline superintendent Claudio Parisi Presicce explained the newly found head of “elegant workmanship” is likely to belong to a female divinity, perhaps Aphrodite.

The head was found in the foundations of this wall. Picture: Roma Press Office/ CNN

“It shows a refined hairstyle of hair gathered at the back thanks to a ‘taenia’, a ribbon knotted on the top of the head,” he said in a statement,

The head, carved in Greek marble, was found intact in the foundation of a late antique wall, on the eastern side of the piazza that is currently being worked on.

The impressive piece was found intact. Picture: Twitter/Sovrintendenza Roma

It’s said to belong to a female divinity, perhaps Aphrodite. Picture: Twitter/Sovrintendenza Roma

“Reused as building material it lay face down, protected by a clay bank on which the foundation of the wall rests,” Mr Parisi Presicce continued.

He said the reuse of sculptural works was a very common practice in the late Middle Ages, which allowed, as in this case, the successful preservation of important works of art.

“The head is currently entrusted to restorers for cleaning, and to archaeologists for correct identification and a first dating proposal, which appears to be anchored in the Augustan era.”