Enter Gabii, an ancient Roman city 11 miles east of Rome you’ve probably never heard of unless you’re an expert in the field. and later reoccupied on a much smaller scale,” Marcello Mogetta, an archaeologist at the University of Missouri, said in a statement. This example of early Roman monumental architecture is partially dug into the bedrock and dates back to around 250 BCE, though some parts might be older. An aerial view of the ancient Roman city of Gabii, located just 11 miles east of Rome. Forums were important public spaces in the center of ancient Roman cities.