Boni and Gjerstad's excavations at Equus Domitiani initially suggested that early hut habitation occurred in the Forum Romanum's Strata 23–28, with Stratum 22 marking the first gravel pavement. However, recent environmental studies indicate the low-lying, wet conditions of the Forum basin were unsuitable for such habitation. Instead, these strata are now reinterpreted as landfill deposits from a reclamation project aimed at transforming the area into a viable public space, leading to the establishment of the Forum.