Archaeologists in Rome have uncovered a second-century building near the Colosseum that may have been used as barracks by ancient Roman firefighters, according to the city's archaeological office. The excavation, conducted in the Villa Celimontana park on the Caelian Hill, has fully revealed five of the building's eight rooms.

The site features a mosaic depicting marine life—including a dolphin, fish, lobster, and crab—surrounding a large two-handled vase, alongside remnants of a painted ceiling decorated with large red and blue circles. The mosaic's design closely resembles one found in a known firefighters' barracks in Ostia, the ancient port city about 30 kilometers from Rome.

This similarity suggests the building may have belonged to the nearby barracks of the Fifth Cohort of the Vigiles, the firefighters responsible for firefighting and maintaining public order at night under the Roman Empire. The barracks reportedly utilized water from a nearby aqueduct.

However, archaeologists also consider an alternative hypothesis that the structure could be a patrician residence, or domus, similar to others on the Caelian Hill.

The archaeological office stated, "If this hypothesis is confirmed, the discovery would help reassess the extent of one of the most important military complexes of imperial Rome." They added, "Only a thorough study of the excavation materials and the structures exposed will provide further information on the newly discovered structure."

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