Abstract

Because of erosion the coastline has retreated some 80 metres, with the result that the tower is now surrounded by the sea and the ruins of the villa have been completely submerged. Recently a causeway was built to connect the tower to the land, and this has completely buried the ruins of the villa. On the beach, in the years prior to 1980, the writer found innumerable shapeless fragments of ornamental Roman stones - marble, porphyry, granite - and amongst these was somewhat less than half of a white marble conical sundial, considerably rounded because of the action of the waves. The fragment is now in the co-author's possession (and at the disposal of the relevant Archaeological Superintendence).