Cabanes du Palatin

Cabanes du Palatin are the remains of three oval dwellings from the 8th century BCE on Palatine Hill, with some cut into the hill's tufa rock near the Temple of Magna Mater. The structures show visible foundation outlines with six post holes that reveal how the oval shapes were supported.

The huts date to the Iron Age and were part of the earliest settlement on Palatine Hill. Archaeological excavations in 1948 uncovered post holes, drainage channels, and hearth remains that documented these early occupations.

The huts display the building methods of early Roman settlers who used simple materials readily available on the hill. You can see how people constructed shelters from earth, straw, and reeds without complex tools or techniques.

The site is part of the larger Palatine archaeological area and requires walking through the excavation zones. It is best to visit during guided tours when an expert can help you understand the different structures and their arrangement.

The exact shape of the huts is documented through burial urns that show models with pitched roofs and small entrance porches. These ceramic records reveal architectural details about the structures that would not be visible from the foundation remains alone.