Archaeologists have uncovered more finds that shed light on the life in Emona, the ancient Roman precursor of Ljubljana, at a building site of a new wing of the National and University Library (NUK).

The latest finds include two residential buildings, known as insulae, with remains of a swimming pool and a heating system known as the hypocaust.

The plot for the project known as NUK II is located near the original NUK and opposite the Križanke open-air theatre, both of which were designed by architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957).

Since October, archaeologists have been excavating parts of two insulae within the walls of ancient Emona and the road that ran between them.

The swimming pool in the first building, from the 4th century AD, measures about 6 by 6 metres and is almost 80 centimetres deep.

The upper layers of the second insula are still being uncovered but rich interiors and mosaics have begun to show, Blaž Orehek, chief archaeologist at the site, told reporters on 18 December.

Parts of the area of NUK II were excavated before, so archaeologists are now digging where no excavations have been done before or were done only partly. They expect to finish their work by the end of March.

Movable finds, such as mosaic cubes and small objects (a cup, hairpin, ring and a needle) have been put on display at the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage's centre adjacent to the site.

After the New Year, there will be guided tours of the site every Tuesday. Once the NEK II is built, the 1st-century remains will be presented in-situ in the library's basement.

Several finds from the Roman times have also been unearthed at the site of the future Ljubljana passenger centre and at the site of Slovenian National Drama Theatre in preparation for renovation.

Emona was built on a plain between Rožnik hill and the castle hill. The Romans created the plateau for the city from clay mixed with gravel, building walls, towers and defensive ditches and lining out roads.

The entire infrastructure of Emona was built in a single operation, on 23 hectares of land, according to Barbara Nadbath, director of Conservation Centre at the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.

Being private, the insulae differed in construction. In the first years of the 1 century AD, all insulae were made of brick and sometimes timber. In the middle of the 1st century, during the first major renovation, they were mostly made of brick. Another major renovation took place in the 4th century, when some were given a public character, such as the bathing complex, according to Orehek.