Archaeologists in Rome have uncovered the remains of a sixth-century archaic temple on Via Petroselli between the Tiber and the Circus Maximus.

Hailed as a significant discovery, the temple dates back to the reign of Servius Tullius, the legendary sixth king of Rome who ruled from 578-535 BC.

Along with the Temple of Jupiter just under the Campidoglio, the newly-unearthed temple on Via Petroselli is the oldest stone temple found in the capital.

The temple is characterised by its Etruscan-Italian style tufa blockwork, and the numerous fragments of Greek pottery found at the site testify to its importance as a gathering place for merchants and travellers passing through Rome at the time.

The temple's remains were discovered by city archaeologists along with colleagues from the University of Michigan and the University of Calabria.