Domestic Architecture, Roman

Introduction

The archaeological remains of Roman houses constitute one of the world’s most common types of archaeological monument. Thousands of cities, each full of houses, were drawn together in a Mediterranean empire that stretched from northern Britain to Mesopotamia. These towns and their territories created a dense architectural landscape of palaces, town-houses, shops, villas, and farms. The remains of this architecture form a rich archaeological resource that continues to excite a wide public interest. As a consequence, the excavation, research, and management of Roman houses represent a major undertaking in those parts of the world that fell within the orbit of Rome (including much of Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia).

Although most domestic buildings in the Roman world were the modest homes of subsistence farmers, built following local vernacular traditions, elite residences were fashioned to provide an impressive setting for the conduct of familial, social, and...