The history of archaeology in the Oplontis area dates back to late sixteenth century, when the tract of the Sarno Canal cut through several areas of archaeological importance, including Pompeii and Oplontis Villa A. In the 1830s, with the hope of discovering statuary for their palaces, the restored Bourbon monarchs underwent a campaign of tunneling through parts of Villa A. It was not until 1964 that the Italian Ministry of Culture decided to begin excavation of Villa A. Under the direction of Alfonso De Franciscis, and later Stefano De Caro and Lorenzo Fergola, work on Villa A continued until the early eighties. In 1973, construction began at a nearby site to build a new school, located 300 meters from the ongoing excavations of Villa A. While coring to sink concrete piers for the school’s foundation, construction workers discovered evidence of an ancient structure. The plans for the school were immediately modified and excavation started on what we now know as Villa B.