Aug. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Italian archeologists may have uncovered the summer villa of the Roman Emperor Vespasian near his birthplace in the mountains northeast of Rome, La Stampa newspaper reported.

Titus Flavius Vespasianus was born 2,000 years ago and came to power after the death of Emperor Nero and a year of civil war. He ruled the Roman Empire from 69 to 79 AD, began construction on the Coliseum, and passed power to his two sons, Titus and Domitian, creating the Flavian dynasty that ended in 96 AD.

Four years of digs led by archeologist Filippo Coarelli of the University of Perugia have uncovered an ornate villa with marble quarried in North Africa and ornate mosaic floors, Stampa said. While no inscription has been found that says the villa belonged to the emperor, the location, size and quality of the structure suggest it was, Coarelli said. Vespasian is said to have died at the villa, La Stampa reported.

To contact the reporter on this story: Steve Scherer in Rome at scherer@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: August 6, 2009 03:01 EDT