With the Roman era the organization and occupation of the territory changed completely. In particular, along this maritime territory we find much evidence of the submerged remains of a concentrated business activity focused on the harbours along the Taranto shoreline from prehistory to the Roman era, predominantly connected with Greek ports.
In the north-western area of Saturo Bay at least two wrecks dating back to about the 2nd century B.C. have been identified: one ship with a cargo of amphorae and the other transporting building stones.
After Roman re-occupation by Quinto Fabio Maximum in 209, leading to the indiscriminate slaughter of Tarantini, Cartaginesi and Bruzi, in 202 B.C., Taranto entered the condition of ‘foederata’. This restricted the city seriously in its wealth, fortifications and above all in its population growth, since thousands of citizens had died or been deported to Rome. The inhabitants had to reduce their fleet and crews, pay an annual tribute and cease minting currency. A great part of the territory was confiscated by the Romans. In 123 B.C., based on the ill-fated agrarian laws of the Gracchi, it was decided to use the ager publicus to found a Roman colony of cives (citizens with full political rights) named the Neptunia Tarentum Colony.
Upheavals and differences occurring within the Roman federation between the 2nd and the 1st century B.C., culminating in the Italic secession, soon led to the concession of political rights for all the city communities of the peninsula from Rimini southwards.
The Roman re-foundation of the city after 59 B.C. created the conditions for the reorganization of the water supply, necessary for public use, but also for the management of the thermal systems, public complexes which characterized specifically the quality and the level of contemporary cities.
