- Piazza San Marco, 49 - 00186, Rome (Italy)
- 39-06 68683399
- FOLD&R is an archaeological journal published since 2004 by the International Association for Classical Archaeology i... moreFOLD&R is an archaeological journal published since 2004 by the International Association for Classical Archaeology in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities.
The journal is dedicated to the proposition that reports on all excavations should be easily available to the general public. It is a peer-reviewed journal, with an editorial board that covers all of the archaeological disciplines. We welcome illustrated submissions, in English, Italian, French, Spanish or German, on recent Italian excavations or geophysical or surface surveys of individual sites. We guarantee a rapid review of the material, which, after any agreed changes, should be published within a month. Two sets of proofs will be submitted for correction by the authors. The reviewers are asked to address the scientific validity and presentation of the submission rather than the scale or importance of the excavation; all excavations are important. No translation is offered, but we are willing to advise on translators for anyone who wishes to publish their text in another language.
An on-line journal follows the same rules as those on paper from both an academic and a juridical point of view. Publications on FOLD&R are thus valid from the point of view of a personal curriculum and should be cited just like other publications. The law protects the intellectual property of the author and the journal. Texts are published in a pdf format, and they can be consulted online, with Acrobat Reader, and downloaded for printing and circulation to colleagues. Texts can be republished by their authors (although only by the authors) without permission from the review; however, we request that the first publication be credited to FOLD&R.
Texts and illustrations, in colour or black and white, should be sent to Helga Di Giuseppe, Piazza San Marco 49, Rome 00186 (tel. 39-06 68683399), or by email to helga.digiuseppe@aiac.org, The illustrations may be sent either as digital or paper files. If the site in question is not already part of the Fasti Online it must be accompanied by a completed Record Sheet.
We will register each FOLD&R article at the CNR central library, the Biblioteca Centrale “G. Marconi”, that has established a database, SOLAR, which registers the deposition of digital scientific publications. Registration and certification by the CNR guarantees the author and the preservation of the work. We assume that the authors of submissions will authorize the deposition of their texts [http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it]. The authors will receive, via email, the certificate of deposition, which can be annexed to their own FOLD&R for distribution.
FOLD&R Homepage [http://bit.ly/1Gh4Pui]
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Archaeological Conservation Series
Fasti Online Documents & Research, Archaeological Conservation, is a peer-reviewed, online journal containing articles which report on recent interventions in archaeological conservation, as well as experimental and theoretical work – although we do prefer links to specific projects. For each article published we will need a record sheet for the Fasti Online Archaeological Conservation database, an abstract in English, and a text of no more than 25 pages, with a maximum of 25 illustrations. Please consult the notes for contributors. We aim to publish all accepted contributions within a month of their peer review.
Please send all contributions to the Editorial Secretary, fasticonservation@iccrom.org.
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Survey Fold&r Series
The Survey series is dedicated to the proposition that reports on all field surveys should be easily available to the general public. It is a peer-reviewed journal, with an editorial board that covers all of the archaeological disciplines. We welcome illustrated submissions, in English, Italian, French, Spanish or German, on field survey archaeology.
Texts under 25 pages and illustrations, in colour or black and white, should be sent to by email to Jitte Waagen (j.waagen@uva.nl). The illustrations must be sent as a digital file. If the survey project in question is not already part of the Fasti Online it must be accompanied by a completed Record Sheet.
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In the north-eastern suburb of Canusium (locality Lamapopoli) there is a large and articulated cemetery complex, characterised by the coexistence of a sub divo necropolis and almost 15 hypogea (catacombs), both family and collective,... more
In the north-eastern suburb of Canusium (locality Lamapopoli) there is a large and articulated cemetery complex, characterised by the coexistence of a sub divo necropolis and almost 15 hypogea (catacombs), both family and collective, excavated at different altitudes into the rocky hillslope that characterises the site. The frequentation of the entire cemetery is dated - without interruption - between the 2nd and 6th century AD, with an increase in funerary use from the mid-4th century onwards, when the construction of the catacombs intensified and exponentially strengthened the possibilities of cemetery occupation. Between 2004-2006 and, after a period of interruption, from 2016 to the present, archaeological investigations were conducted in a number of underground sites (A, C, F, G, H) from which the oil lamps examined originated. The locally produced specimens, dated to a period between the 4th and 6th centuries AD, consist of a considerable variety and quantity of types, which cannot currently be compared with other late antique sites in southern Italy. In particular, an attempt has been made here to propose a chrono-typological succession of oil-lamps that can almost certainly be traced back to local production, selecting a sample of specimens considered significant and illustrative of the various types
attested.
attested.
Research Interests:
In Modena, north of the via Emilia in the Cittanova area, between 2020 and 2022, archaeological investigations were carried out north of the Roman sanctuary excavated between 2006 and 2009, as part of a new project aimed at creating the... more
In Modena, north of the via Emilia in the Cittanova area, between 2020 and 2022, archaeological investigations were carried out north of the Roman sanctuary excavated between 2006 and 2009, as part of a new project aimed at creating the motorway connection Campogalliano-Sassuolo.
The research has highlighted a complex architectural complex, composed of a series of rooms that develop around a large courtyard area, characterized by gravel and brick leveling, inside which there were three wells, a pair of drainage channels, a quadrangular basin and structures that indicate, further north, service, productive or artisanal activities. In the southern sector, partially underground rooms were identified, equipped with floor coverings and a heating system with suspensurae and praefurnium.
The research is still ongoing, however, from a first analysis of the data collected, the complex seems to date between the 2nd BC and the 2nd century AD, with evidence of spoliation up to the end of the 4th century AD.
The research has highlighted a complex architectural complex, composed of a series of rooms that develop around a large courtyard area, characterized by gravel and brick leveling, inside which there were three wells, a pair of drainage channels, a quadrangular basin and structures that indicate, further north, service, productive or artisanal activities. In the southern sector, partially underground rooms were identified, equipped with floor coverings and a heating system with suspensurae and praefurnium.
The research is still ongoing, however, from a first analysis of the data collected, the complex seems to date between the 2nd BC and the 2nd century AD, with evidence of spoliation up to the end of the 4th century AD.
Research Interests:
L’applicazione del telerilevamento multispettrale da drone nell’ambito della ricerca archeologica rappresenta un’innovativa e promettente opportunità per la rapida identificazione su vaste estensioni di un numero consistente di evidenze... more
L’applicazione del telerilevamento multispettrale da drone nell’ambito della ricerca archeologica rappresenta un’innovativa e promettente opportunità per la rapida identificazione su vaste estensioni di un numero consistente di evidenze archeologiche sepolte. L’utilizzo di camere multispettrali consente infatti di registrare la risposta spettrale delle piante in diverse bande dello
spettro elettromagnetico ed elaborando le immagini mediante l’uso degli indici di vegetazione è possibile identificare le minime variazioni nelle condizioni fisiologiche delle piante prodotte da resti sepolti e invisibili all’occhio umano.
L’applicazione di questa tecnica a partire dal 2017 – e dal 2020 nell’ambito delle ricerche dell’Insegnamento di Civiltà dell’Italia preromana ed Etruscologia della Sapienza Università di Roma – presso l’area urbana di Veio, ed in particolare nella porzione nordoccidentale del plateau corrispondente al toponimo di Campetti, ha dimostrato come sia possibile identificare una notevole quantità di cropmark.
L’integrazione dei dati ottenuti tramite questa metodologia con quelli provenienti dal riesame degli scavi e ricerche pregresse, il cui studio è attualmente in corso mediante ricerche d’archivio, ha permesso di arricchire significativamente e approfondire la conoscenza e la comprensione dello sviluppo del paesaggio urbano in un'ampia porzione della città antica.
spettro elettromagnetico ed elaborando le immagini mediante l’uso degli indici di vegetazione è possibile identificare le minime variazioni nelle condizioni fisiologiche delle piante prodotte da resti sepolti e invisibili all’occhio umano.
L’applicazione di questa tecnica a partire dal 2017 – e dal 2020 nell’ambito delle ricerche dell’Insegnamento di Civiltà dell’Italia preromana ed Etruscologia della Sapienza Università di Roma – presso l’area urbana di Veio, ed in particolare nella porzione nordoccidentale del plateau corrispondente al toponimo di Campetti, ha dimostrato come sia possibile identificare una notevole quantità di cropmark.
L’integrazione dei dati ottenuti tramite questa metodologia con quelli provenienti dal riesame degli scavi e ricerche pregresse, il cui studio è attualmente in corso mediante ricerche d’archivio, ha permesso di arricchire significativamente e approfondire la conoscenza e la comprensione dello sviluppo del paesaggio urbano in un'ampia porzione della città antica.
Research Interests:
The Campanian Augustan Aqueduct is one of the major civil works in Roman antiquity, built in the last decades of the 1st century BC to supply fresh water not only to the naval harbour in Misenum, through the famous Piscina Mirabile, but... more
The Campanian Augustan Aqueduct is one of the major civil works in Roman antiquity, built in the last decades of the 1st century BC to supply fresh water not only to the naval harbour in Misenum, through the famous Piscina Mirabile, but above all to the city of Puteoli and the luxury thermal installations at Baia. An estimated length of 105 km of the main axis alone,
and at least 135 km with side branches, made it the longest Roman aqueduct of the time. It was also the only one to supply several cities.
Researches carried out in the 16th and 19th centuries asserted the existence of an important side branch that ran along the Posillipo ridge towards Fuorigrotta-Coroglio; it is assumed to have reached the island of Nisida via a channel-bridge. This branch would be about 5 km long, but only a 250 m long section was known in the Discesa Coroglio area, near the Nisida end. Only in 2019 another section about 270 m long was explored, still near Discesa Coroglio.
At the beginning of 2023, thanks to the authorization by the Extraordinary Commissioner for the Reclamation of Bagnoli, and with the collaboration of the facility management Invitalia company, the Cocceivs Association found a previously lost section in an excellent state of conservation. The development reaches 800 meters; this qualifies it as the longest known
segment of the Aqua Augusta, also showing fourteen horizontal accesses (adits).
The paper reports preliminary information on the new aqueduct section, with details on the adits and the channel and some information on the expected water flow amount.
and at least 135 km with side branches, made it the longest Roman aqueduct of the time. It was also the only one to supply several cities.
Researches carried out in the 16th and 19th centuries asserted the existence of an important side branch that ran along the Posillipo ridge towards Fuorigrotta-Coroglio; it is assumed to have reached the island of Nisida via a channel-bridge. This branch would be about 5 km long, but only a 250 m long section was known in the Discesa Coroglio area, near the Nisida end. Only in 2019 another section about 270 m long was explored, still near Discesa Coroglio.
At the beginning of 2023, thanks to the authorization by the Extraordinary Commissioner for the Reclamation of Bagnoli, and with the collaboration of the facility management Invitalia company, the Cocceivs Association found a previously lost section in an excellent state of conservation. The development reaches 800 meters; this qualifies it as the longest known
segment of the Aqua Augusta, also showing fourteen horizontal accesses (adits).
The paper reports preliminary information on the new aqueduct section, with details on the adits and the channel and some information on the expected water flow amount.
Research Interests:
The aims of the 2020 excavation campaign were the continuation of the archaeological investigations and the enhancement of the visit route inaugurated in 2019. The site had aroused strong interest in the public, what was confirmed in... more
The aims of the 2020 excavation campaign were the continuation of the archaeological investigations and the enhancement of the visit route inaugurated in 2019. The site had aroused strong interest in the public, what was confirmed in 2020. The archaeological excavation continued from where it had been interrupted at the end of the previous campaign: the investigation of the cemetery area north of the church. Of course, it was necessary to extend the excavation limits by moving along the slope of the hill, because it was clear that other burials would be found, with important grave goods and therefore useful information to collect. The discovery of forty-seven tombs confirmed our hypothesis. The grave goods we found date back to the period of maximum attendance of the sacred place, i.e. from the 12th to the 15th century. In particular, in the north-western sector of the area a concentration of children’s burials was found, perhaps voluntarily aimed at creating a small “paradise” dedicated to them. In the south-eastern sector of the site, we found a furnace that was used for the production of a bell of about 45-50 cm in diameter. From the remains it can be seen that the techniques used by the specialized workers follow the dictates as described by Theophilus, therefore it can be assumed that this kind of production was typical of a period ranging from the 10th to the 11th century. On the other hand, in the southern sector a significant collapse of the walls, including the architrave, has come to light. The wall could belong to a sacred building, rebuilt at the beginning of the 13th century at the behest of the Monastery of Santa Giustina in Lucca. At this time, the data collected seem to suggest two construction phases on the top of the hill, the first of the 8th-10th century, the second of the 12th-13th century. The latter is undoubtedly linked to the Church of Santa Mustiola. As to the first phase, it is possible that the site had initially a different function, but it was quickly converted into a sacred place.
Research Interests:
The research conducted by M.W. Stoop (1963-1969) and then continued later by M. Kleibrink on the acropolis of Timpone della Motta represent an important contribution to the knowledge of the Enotrian settlement, which later entered the... more
The research conducted by M.W. Stoop (1963-1969) and then continued later by M. Kleibrink on the acropolis of Timpone della Motta represent an important contribution to the knowledge of the Enotrian settlement, which later entered the Sybarite sphere of influence. The study presented here examines a sector of the old Stoop excavations (so-called Area Chiesetta) which had led to the discovery of a stratigraphy and a structure in squared blocks, interpreted by the scholar as a fence. The stratigraphic re-examination and a more indepth analysis allow us to reconsider the discovery in a more complex and articulated way, recognizing its connection with the archaic temple, heir to a previous wooden temple.
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The Certosa of Calci is a monumental monastery founded in 1366 by Carthusian monks and located near the city of Pisa (Italy). During its long life, the Charterhouse has experienced various transformations until its abandonment in the... more
The Certosa of Calci is a monumental monastery founded in 1366 by Carthusian monks and located near the city of Pisa (Italy). During its long life, the Charterhouse has experienced various transformations until its abandonment in the 1970s; nowadays it hosts the Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa, a popular touristic attraction. Since 2018, the MAPPA Laboratory of the University of Pisa has been conducting an archaeological research of the complex, as part of a project finalised at its restoration. The main objective was the investigation of the gardens of the monks to determine modifications in their design, changes in the plant typologies, and their relationships over time. The investigations focused on three different monks’ cell gardens (the Prior’s, the Apothecary’s and the Master’s) and stratigraphic excavations were combined with archaeobotanical and archaeozoological analyses. The most representative is the Prior’s meditation garden, where the excava-tion explored the phases prior to the construction of the building (14th century), the 18th-century renovation in its current form, and the abandonment of the garden at the end of the 20th century. Pollen analysis has enabled us to reconstruct a rich group of herbal essences characterising an ever-blooming garden, with flowers and ornamental plants, such as roses, lilac and water lilies, as well as vegetables and medicinal plants. According to charcoal and fruitremain analyses, the Charterhouse ex-ploited local hilly woods, satisfying its fuel requirements with maquis and thermophilous deciduous forest. Agrarian practices included the cultivation of fruit trees, such as chestnut, olive, almond, and vine.
Research Interests:
In May 2020 during maintenance work within the parish church of San Canzian d’Isonzo, a crypt was discovered under the high altar. Within the small burial chamber several human bones were discovered. The archaeological excavation of the... more
In May 2020 during maintenance work within the parish church of San Canzian d’Isonzo, a crypt was discovered under the high altar. Within the small burial chamber several human bones were discovered. The archaeological excavation of the crypt allowed to document the structure, recover all the bones and burial goods, and analyze the taphonomical characteristics of the samples. After an interdisciplinary study that involved archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, and geologists, it was possible to date the structure, define the number and the characteristics of the subjects buried within the crypt and under-stand the relationship between the crypt and the church. This paper presents the results of the archaeological excavation.
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This paper focuses on the wares (fine wares, lamps and amphora) recovered from a sewer at the military complex discovered in Rome during the excavations for the metro Line C at the Amba Aradam station. The good state of preservation of... more
This paper focuses on the wares (fine wares, lamps and amphora) recovered from a sewer at the military complex discovered in Rome during the excavations for the metro Line C at the Amba Aradam station. The good state of preservation of the ceramics from this deposit suggests they were likely in use when they were dumped into the channel of the sewer. Accordingly, this assemblage offers an essential opportunity for a better understanding of the material culture circulating within Rome in the last decades of the 3 rd century, which is a phase that is underrepresented archaeologically.
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The archaeological site of La Longarina in Ostia has been partially excavated in two different field campaigns. Excavations in Longarina 1 were carried out in 1975 and in Longarina 2 in 2005. The two work areas were situated very close to... more
The archaeological site of La Longarina in Ostia has been partially excavated in two different field campaigns. Excavations in Longarina 1 were carried out in 1975 and in Longarina 2 in 2005. The two work areas were situated very close to each other, in the vast lagoon of Ostia connected with the sea on one side and elsewhere with the salt flats. Research has revealed the existence of a reclamation system of the marshland by the drainage of groundwater and by reinforcing the lagoon banks with soils mixed with various clayey materials. With this aim, during the late 1 st century BCE and first moments of the 1 st CE, large quantities of earth mixed with different materials, mainly pottery, were interleaved with deposits of complete or almost complete amphorae.
With this contribution we aim to report a first preliminary study about the Longarina 2 depot, based on a first small campaign developed in November 2021. This depot is formed by 47 amphorae (fig. 3, tab. 1). From a chronological point of view there is a striking homogeneity with all the amphora types dated in the central decades of the 1 st century BCE; from a geographical perspective, most amphorae came from the Italian regions, especially from the central and north Adriatic (34) with a smaller quantity of those produced in different Tirrenian areas (4). However, extra-Italian regions such as the Iberian Peninsula (7) and North Africa (2) are present as well.
This preliminary publication is the first step in a larger study about the whole context included in a broad scientific collaboration between the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica, the Austrian Archaeological Institute (ÖAI), the Complutense University in Madrid (UCM), the Segretariato Regionale for Lazio, and the Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este Institute.
With this contribution we aim to report a first preliminary study about the Longarina 2 depot, based on a first small campaign developed in November 2021. This depot is formed by 47 amphorae (fig. 3, tab. 1). From a chronological point of view there is a striking homogeneity with all the amphora types dated in the central decades of the 1 st century BCE; from a geographical perspective, most amphorae came from the Italian regions, especially from the central and north Adriatic (34) with a smaller quantity of those produced in different Tirrenian areas (4). However, extra-Italian regions such as the Iberian Peninsula (7) and North Africa (2) are present as well.
This preliminary publication is the first step in a larger study about the whole context included in a broad scientific collaboration between the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica, the Austrian Archaeological Institute (ÖAI), the Complutense University in Madrid (UCM), the Segretariato Regionale for Lazio, and the Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este Institute.
Research Interests:
Starting from 2017, the Tannetum international archaeological project began the investigations of a fort known in local toponymy as "Castellazzo" (Taneto di Gattatico, RE). The only previous excavations, which took place in the 50s and... more
Starting from 2017, the Tannetum international archaeological project began the investigations of a fort known in local toponymy as "Castellazzo" (Taneto di Gattatico, RE). The only previous excavations, which took place in the 50s and 60s of the twentieth century, had to stop almost immediately, due to the upwelling of the groundwater. This led to various hypothetical dating and interpretations of the structure. Our research has instead shown that it is a medieval fortress, built in the mid-ninth century and, based on the findings presented here, it seems to live at least until the eleventh century. Excavations have, so far, focused on a tower, this led to the discovery of 8 Islamic chess pieces probably produced in Iran, published in 2019; however, in continuing the research, 4 other pawns were found, perhaps referable to the game of “tables”, one of the most popular games in the Middle Ages. New archaeological data made it possible to propose some new considerations about the historical context in which the castle was built and destroyed.
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This contribution presents the results of the excavation in via la Monachina, located on the western outskirts of Rome, in the locality of Massa Gallesina (at the thirteenth kilometer of the modern Via Aurelia). The excavation led to the... more
This contribution presents the results of the excavation in via la Monachina, located on the western outskirts of Rome, in the locality of Massa Gallesina (at the thirteenth kilometer of the modern Via Aurelia). The excavation led to the discovery of a vast necropolis of the imperial age (II-III century AD). 337 burials were recovered consisting mostly of single burials in an earth pit. Furthermore, the excavation, carried out in recent years, combining modern investigative approaches and carried out with the in situ support of anthropological analysis, offers on the one hand the possibility of a study based on a reliable numerical sample, and on the other a complete reading on the treatment of the deceased, the use of collective cemetery spaces and, finally, the historical-social nature of the space and its use.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Imperial Rome, Archeologia, Coins finds as archaeological artefacts, Contextual Numismatics, Coins and Archaeology, Archaeological Theory, and 7 moreRoman Necropolis, Lucerne Romane, Archeologia di Roma e del Suburbio, Anfore Romane, Terra Sigillata Africana, Enchytrismos, and Via Aurelia
This paper is a preliminary report of the results of the excavation of the Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici of the Università della Calabria in the settlement of Timpone della Motta in Francavilla Marittima (CS). During the fourth year of... more
This paper is a preliminary report of the results of the excavation of the Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici of the Università della Calabria in the settlement of Timpone della Motta in Francavilla Marittima (CS). During the fourth year of excavation, research was conducted on plateau II. In particular, numerous evidences pertinent to huts were found, to be referred to the phase in which the housing structures were made of wood.
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During the archaeological excavations carried out for the construction of two industrial plants in the municipality of San Marco Evangelista (CE), a pre-centurial rural roadbed in an excellent state of preservation was found. This roadbed... more
During the archaeological excavations carried out for the construction of two industrial plants in the municipality of San Marco Evangelista (CE), a pre-centurial rural roadbed in an excellent state of preservation was found. This roadbed is chronologically framed, through the analysis of archaeological materials, to the late IV-mid III century BC. The stratigraphic deepening of some parts of the roadbed has permitted the identification of a series of levels of repair and resurfacings executed in the arc of a century. The first level of the oldest roadbed was embedded in a canal and seemed to follow a slightly different orientation than the most recent.
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Marcello Mogetta, Ilaria Battiloro, Ivan Varriale, Daniel P. Diffendale, Giordano Iacomelli, Mattia D’Acri, Chiara Corbino, Chiara Comegna, Giacomo Pardini (2022): "Archaeological Research at the Sanctuary of Venus in Pompeii: Interim Report of the 2018-2019 Seasons of the Venus Pompeiana Project"more
As part of the new cycle of archaeological research promoted by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii in the Sanctuary and Temple of Venus (VIII.1.3), a team from Mount Allison University and the University of Missouri undertook a second and... more
As part of the new cycle of archaeological research promoted by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii in the Sanctuary and Temple of Venus (VIII.1.3), a team from Mount Allison University and the University of Missouri undertook a second and third season of fieldwork in the summers of 2018 and 2019. This report presents the stratigraphic data collected from trenches excavated within the cella, in the open court E of the temple, and in the E wing of the triporticus that surrounded it. The results have allowed us to further define the spatial organization of the area prior to the construction of the monumental sanctuary, first uncovered in 2017, revealing more remains of Samniteera buildings that occupied elongated city blocks which were for-mally developed during the 2nd century BCE and repurposed in the early 1st century BCE, possibly for commercial functions. Based on finds from the obliteration sequence of these features and the surviving architectural decoration, the erection of the temple and triporticus can be securely dated to the late 1st century BCE, thus undermining previous reconstructions that vari-ously assigned the first building phase to the Late Samnite, Sullan or Caesarian periods.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Pompeii (Archaeology), Ancient numismatics (Archaeology), Roman Pottery, Roman numismatics and archaeology, and 9 moreArcheologia, Roman Temples, Coins finds as archaeological artefacts, Pompeii, Samnites, Roman Sanctuaries, Painted Stucco Decoration, Votive Deposit, and Votive offerings
The stratigraphy and pottery from two spoliation contexts located at the Templum Pacis (Rome) are described here. The stratigraphic data reported in the first part of this manuscript deals with two main activities recognized within the... more
The stratigraphy and pottery from two spoliation contexts located at the Templum Pacis (Rome) are described here. The stratigraphic data reported in the first part of this manuscript deals with two main activities recognized within the investigated area and identified as two different spoliation trenches. The first one, -910, removed the foundations of the western wall located between the worship hall and the Forma Urbis hall. The second one, -1203, later than the first, was excavated in order to remove the brick curtain of the surviving septum wall, located to the west of the wall destroyed by the previous ditch. Finally, the data collected during the last fieldwork campaigns, between 2012 and 2015, increase our know-ledges of the westernmost area of the temple, partially reconstructed during the 2000’ and 2010’ excavations. The second part of the manuscript deals with the study of the pottery collected from the fills of the spoliation cuts. The results suggest that the -910 dates between the end of twelfth and the beginning of thirteenth century whilst the -1203 dates between the thirteenth and the fourteenth century. Further, the material analyzed, including the residuals, enabled us to reconstruct different phases of occupation and abandonment of the Templum Pacis area between the Imperial period and the sixteenth century.
Research Interests:
The monumental Roman building known as the Roman Villa delle Grotte, in the bay of Portoferraio, on the Island of Elba, has been the subject of numerous researches since 1700. Initially interpreted as one of the luxurious villae maritimae... more
The monumental Roman building known as the Roman Villa delle Grotte, in the bay of Portoferraio, on the Island of Elba, has been the subject of numerous researches since 1700. Initially interpreted as one of the luxurious villae maritimae that dotted the islands of the Tuscan archipelago, built by noble exponents of the aristocratic classes of Rome for rest and recreation, has been the subject of a profound re-examination for some years. Some elements seem to confirm the interpretation of the building as a large palace residence perhaps belonging to the powerful Valerii family, who had properties and interests on the island and on the coast in front. Others, in particular the large number of rooms characterized by waterproofing coatings and water pipes, suggest that it was, before a villa, a monumental preparation in which water was the central element: a large castellum aquarum with a sanctuary in the center? A large hortus comparable to those that were set up in the city in those same decades? The building was built at the end of the 1st century BC. and used until the end of the 1st century AD.
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The present metrological study was conducted in the context of the ongoing research of the Pompeii Forum Project that was founded in 1995 to study the dynamic evolution of the forum and the zones immediately adjacent to it. This tightly... more
The present metrological study was conducted in the context of the ongoing research of the Pompeii Forum Project that was founded in 1995 to study the dynamic evolution of the forum and the zones immediately adjacent to it. This tightly focused article on the Roman foot in the Capitolium is a contribution to that effort in anticipation of a full treatment of the building in our final book publication.
The metrology of the temple constitutes an important class of evidence in its own right and must be considered when discussing the temple as a whole and its architectural history. The utility of such a study is that metric dimensions can be converted easily to Oscan or Roman feet. The first goal of the article is to provide raw data that allow us, and other researchers, to address the question of whether the temple was designed in Oscan or Roman feet. This is important as the pre-Roman Samnites employed the Oscan foot while the Romans employed the Roman. Our data thus allow us to address the related question of whether the temple was Samnite or a product of Roman control of the city after 89 BCE. The second goal is to assess the evidence that reveals the ubiquitous use of the Roman foot that, in turn, argues for a post-89 BCE Roman date for the temple.
In the process of our documentation, we discovered that the columns in the pronaos of the temple appear to be no longer in their ancient locations, and that a regularized placement reveals that the Capitolium conforms to the Vitruvian pycnostyle type of Roman temple (Tables 13-15). While that observation requires a few comments on temple design, the latter is not the intent of this study. A future publication will treat the temple’s design, phasing, and chronology in detail, as indicated above. The twofold importance of the present article lies in the fact that it is the only study to date that provides full documentation of the metric dimensions within the temple and that it contributes to the Samnite vs. Roman debate in substantial ways.
The metrology of the temple constitutes an important class of evidence in its own right and must be considered when discussing the temple as a whole and its architectural history. The utility of such a study is that metric dimensions can be converted easily to Oscan or Roman feet. The first goal of the article is to provide raw data that allow us, and other researchers, to address the question of whether the temple was designed in Oscan or Roman feet. This is important as the pre-Roman Samnites employed the Oscan foot while the Romans employed the Roman. Our data thus allow us to address the related question of whether the temple was Samnite or a product of Roman control of the city after 89 BCE. The second goal is to assess the evidence that reveals the ubiquitous use of the Roman foot that, in turn, argues for a post-89 BCE Roman date for the temple.
In the process of our documentation, we discovered that the columns in the pronaos of the temple appear to be no longer in their ancient locations, and that a regularized placement reveals that the Capitolium conforms to the Vitruvian pycnostyle type of Roman temple (Tables 13-15). While that observation requires a few comments on temple design, the latter is not the intent of this study. A future publication will treat the temple’s design, phasing, and chronology in detail, as indicated above. The twofold importance of the present article lies in the fact that it is the only study to date that provides full documentation of the metric dimensions within the temple and that it contributes to the Samnite vs. Roman debate in substantial ways.
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In 2021, the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” with the Parco Archeologico di Leontinoi, carried out a short campaign in the archaeological site of Leontinoi (Sicily), whose preliminary results are illustrated in the present paper. The... more
In 2021, the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” with the Parco Archeologico di Leontinoi, carried out a short campaign in the archaeological site of Leontinoi (Sicily), whose preliminary results are illustrated in the present paper. The research focused on two distinct sectors of Colle San Mauro, respectively in the southern and the northern part of the hill, the latter never investigated before. The structures brought to light belong to different periods, from the Archaic period to the Middle Ages, including the remains of a greek temple.
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The study published in 2015 of an important medieval coin hoard found in the territory of the Maremma Regional Park (Tuscany – Italy) gave impulse to an archaeological survey carried out in the years 2016-2019 as part of a PhD Project.... more
The study published in 2015 of an important medieval coin hoard found in the territory of the Maremma Regional Park (Tuscany – Italy) gave impulse to an archaeological survey carried out in the years 2016-2019 as part of a PhD Project. The research work led to the discovery of a previously unknown medieval settlement situated in a narrow valley south of the castle of Collecchium (Magliano in Toscana – GR). The complex consisted of a church built in Romanesque style and other annexed buildings, now completely collapsed and still showing all around unusually well preserved traces of a medieval landscape with fields suitable for cultivation, a spring, paths and even a quarry. The materials recovered during the survey shows that the church was externally enriched with architectural decorations and figurative bas-reliefs, including that of a horseman. The settlement was in use between the late 11th and 13th centuries, a period in which the interests of the San Salvatore al Monte Amiata Abbey and those of the powerful Aldobrandeschi family intertwined in this area, until the intervention of Siena with the purchase of the nearby port of Talamone in 1303. Surface survey and non-invasive methods have allowed us to collect useful archaeological data and to avoid destructive intervention such as excavating in a protected natural area. The site is now included in two itineraries and is fully accessible to visitors of the regional Park.
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The excavation of the “ex-Salesiani” complex, located in Pisa, documented a long settlement sequence, discontinuously covering a chronological span between the 2nd century BC and the pre-modern period. Between the 2nd century BC-2nd... more
The excavation of the “ex-Salesiani” complex, located in Pisa, documented a long settlement sequence, discontinuously covering a chronological span between the 2nd century BC and the pre-modern period.
Between the 2nd century BC-2nd century AD, the area does not seem to be occupied by buildings. At least from the 10th-11th century, a church was built with a few buildings around it. During the 12th century, a metal workshop was set up and, between the end of the 12th-13th century, after the rebuilding of the church in its present form, a textile workshop started its work. Between the end of the 16th and 17th century, new transformations took place: the space along the main road was completely filled and, on the inside, horticultural/garden areas were created. In the 18th century, the area hosted a monastery. The new use involved the extension of the church and the definition of some new cemetery areas below the apse and on the sides of the church. Between the 20th and 21st century, the Salesians and, subseauently, the CNR, made new modi- fications to the complex.
Between the 2nd century BC-2nd century AD, the area does not seem to be occupied by buildings. At least from the 10th-11th century, a church was built with a few buildings around it. During the 12th century, a metal workshop was set up and, between the end of the 12th-13th century, after the rebuilding of the church in its present form, a textile workshop started its work. Between the end of the 16th and 17th century, new transformations took place: the space along the main road was completely filled and, on the inside, horticultural/garden areas were created. In the 18th century, the area hosted a monastery. The new use involved the extension of the church and the definition of some new cemetery areas below the apse and on the sides of the church. Between the 20th and 21st century, the Salesians and, subseauently, the CNR, made new modi- fications to the complex.
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Since the 20th century ‘80s the Area Scheibler, located in the Western outskirts of Pisa, has been the place of findings and rescue excavations. Such discoveries testify the long-lasting history of this sector of the ancient suburb from... more
Since the 20th century ‘80s the Area Scheibler, located in the Western outskirts of Pisa, has been the place of findings and rescue excavations. Such discoveries testify the long-lasting history of this sector of the ancient suburb from the Iron Age to the Early Middle Age, with a consistent Roman phase.
Core reading performed and geoelectrical investigation outlined that the area was crossed by a large fluvial channel, the disappeared Auser river. Investigated areas are located to the East (Area 4) and the West (Area 5) of the water course, offering a wide picture of the ancient landscape.
From our investigation a complex stratigraphic sequence emerged: it was possible to recognise a fluvial landscape consisting of river bank protection structures, piers, navalia, and the probable remains of a via helciaria. Such evidence are significantly related to the close site of the Roman shipwrecks of Pisa San Rossore, dating from the second century BC. to the 5th century AD.
Core reading performed and geoelectrical investigation outlined that the area was crossed by a large fluvial channel, the disappeared Auser river. Investigated areas are located to the East (Area 4) and the West (Area 5) of the water course, offering a wide picture of the ancient landscape.
From our investigation a complex stratigraphic sequence emerged: it was possible to recognise a fluvial landscape consisting of river bank protection structures, piers, navalia, and the probable remains of a via helciaria. Such evidence are significantly related to the close site of the Roman shipwrecks of Pisa San Rossore, dating from the second century BC. to the 5th century AD.
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The paper presents the results of the ongoing research in the Picenian and Roman necropolis of Contrada Nevola in Corinaldo, conducted by the University of Bologna in collaboration with SABAP AN and PU. The excavation campaigns, carried... more
The paper presents the results of the ongoing research in the Picenian and Roman necropolis of Contrada Nevola in Corinaldo, conducted by the University of Bologna in collaboration with SABAP AN and PU.
The excavation campaigns, carried out in continuity from 2019 to 2021, provide new data both on the necropolis of the Orientalizing Age (7th century BC), enriched with a new funerary circle with high-ranking grave goods, and on the burial ground of the middle imperial Roman Age, which has become more defined in terms of extension, chronology and tomb types.
The new acquisitions always derive from the integrated investigations within the framework of the ArcheoNevola project and from a procedure of preventative archaeological assessment, on the background of a synergic collaboration between all the institutions involved.
The picture that seems to emerge from the diachronic analysis of the context is that of an area that has maintained a funerary use for a long time, perhaps even with an important hiatus between the main phases of occupation, but certainly recognized and prolonged. The topographical position and the characteristics of the funerary landscape must have favoured the survival of the site, possibly also charged with ideological meanings and memory.
The excavation campaigns, carried out in continuity from 2019 to 2021, provide new data both on the necropolis of the Orientalizing Age (7th century BC), enriched with a new funerary circle with high-ranking grave goods, and on the burial ground of the middle imperial Roman Age, which has become more defined in terms of extension, chronology and tomb types.
The new acquisitions always derive from the integrated investigations within the framework of the ArcheoNevola project and from a procedure of preventative archaeological assessment, on the background of a synergic collaboration between all the institutions involved.
The picture that seems to emerge from the diachronic analysis of the context is that of an area that has maintained a funerary use for a long time, perhaps even with an important hiatus between the main phases of occupation, but certainly recognized and prolonged. The topographical position and the characteristics of the funerary landscape must have favoured the survival of the site, possibly also charged with ideological meanings and memory.
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This paper illustrates the results of the second archaeological season that took place at the medieval site of Castellaraccio di Monteverdi, in the territory of Civitella Paganico (Grosseto, Italy). The excavation revealed the phases of... more
This paper illustrates the results of the second archaeological season that took place at the medieval site of Castellaraccio di Monteverdi, in the territory of Civitella Paganico (Grosseto, Italy). The excavation revealed the phases of abandonment in one of the rooms of the main keep of the settlement, completing and confirming the results of the 2018 trench. A second new area was opened on the North side of the fortification to define the role and the function of other sections of the castle. The material recovered confirms that the site was abandoned during the second half of the known 13th century, as stated in the written sources. At this stage one other earlier phase of occupation predates the visible standing structure. Further, new details were added to the general plan based on emerging remains.
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The surveys carried out between 2019 and 2020 on Monte Bisenzio (Capodimonte, VT), as part of the research carried out by the Museum of Navigation in the Inland Waters of Capodimonte, made it possible to identify and survey a series of... more
The surveys carried out between 2019 and 2020 on Monte Bisenzio (Capodimonte, VT), as part of the research carried out by the Museum of Navigation in the Inland Waters of Capodimonte, made it possible to identify and survey a series of lithic structures, probably to be related with the castrum which, from the early Middle Ages to the 14th century, occupied the summit of Monte Bisenzio. The lithic structures consist of artificial caves of various sizes and some pressing basins for grape crushing, which together with the dovecote, were probably related to the productive activities of the castrum, in particular breeding, cultivation of vines and other agricultural activities that required storage environments.
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This paper refers to the preliminary results of the archaeological excavation carried out by the University of Genoa in 2018 and 2019 in San Bartolomeo al Mare, in the area hypothetically identified as the Mansio of Lucus Bormani. The... more
This paper refers to the preliminary results of the archaeological excavation carried out by the University of Genoa in 2018 and 2019 in San Bartolomeo al Mare, in the area hypothetically identified as the Mansio of Lucus Bormani. The activities focused on the square-court (area 1) and on a small sample located south-east of Building B (area 2). The intervention made it possible to detect remains of structures and deposits attributable to a chronological period between the end of the I century and the beginning of the III century AD.
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The interdisciplinary project ‘Egnazia: from the excavation to the valorisation’, by the Department of Research and Humanistic Innovation of the University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, pay attention to the insula in the South area of the Egnazia... more
The interdisciplinary project ‘Egnazia: from the excavation to the valorisation’, by the Department of Research and Humanistic Innovation of the University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, pay attention to the insula in the South area of the Egnazia forum, where first the public baths and then the near peristyle domus were identified and studied. The survey has been extended to an adjacent area of the same insula since 2015, where an articulated palimpsest was identified: it is now introduced organically for the first time.
This area was characterized by the indigenous inhabitation between 6th and 3rd c. B.C., the first investigated by stratigraphic excavation in Egnazia, composed by a large house and its funerary area. A rich atrium domus was building here on the first half of 2nd c. B.C., which lives up to the end of 4th A.D., when this area was acquired by the ecclesiastic authority for building a new religious structure.
The sequence allows to read the urban continuity and transformation with new elements both for occupation manner and ‘cultural landscape’, in particular for the inhabit ways, the cults, the relationship between the alive people, deaths and divinity spaces.
This area was characterized by the indigenous inhabitation between 6th and 3rd c. B.C., the first investigated by stratigraphic excavation in Egnazia, composed by a large house and its funerary area. A rich atrium domus was building here on the first half of 2nd c. B.C., which lives up to the end of 4th A.D., when this area was acquired by the ecclesiastic authority for building a new religious structure.
The sequence allows to read the urban continuity and transformation with new elements both for occupation manner and ‘cultural landscape’, in particular for the inhabit ways, the cults, the relationship between the alive people, deaths and divinity spaces.
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The paper presents the results of a rescue excavation in Rome, via di Torre Rossa. During the Roman period, this was an area of the suburb next to the ancient city crossed by via Aurelia and the via Cornelia. The excavation led to the... more
The paper presents the results of a rescue excavation in Rome, via di Torre Rossa. During the Roman period, this was an area of the suburb next to the ancient city crossed by via Aurelia and the via Cornelia. The excavation led to the discovery of a large hydraulic structure, interpreted as castellum aquae, probably state-owned and connected to one of the two public aqueducts found here: the aqua Alsietina and the aqua Traiana. The research also made it possible to re-read some old findings from the 1960s, from the same the area: it is another probable castellum, a cistern and a conduit probably relating to the aqueduct of Trajan. Overall, the structures testify to the strategic importance of this area for the distribution of water to the villas and fundi of this part of the western Suburbium.
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This article is a preliminary publication of the results of the excavations and research at proprietà Lolli and Colleoni 2011-2012, Villa Adriana, known as the Liceo area and often considered as a part of Hadrian’s Villa. The Liceo... more
This article is a preliminary publication of the results of the excavations and research at proprietà Lolli and Colleoni 2011-2012, Villa Adriana, known as the Liceo area and often considered as a part of Hadrian’s Villa. The Liceo Project, which is the framework of this fieldwork, aims to document the archaeological remains and the topography of the area through digital documentation, archaeological excavation and prospection and understand its relation to the Imperial villa. The project has two core objects of study, the so-called Villa of the Lolli Paolini with its ambulatorium and a recently excavated structure (Building A) that can be interpreted as a smaller villa with baths. The so-called Villa of the Lolli Paolini has an enigmatic ambulatorium which originally gave the name to the area, Liceo. Building A was discovered in 2004, and the excavations carried out by the project have shown that the excavated structure had a basin. Water supply was abundant here: a cistern may have been connected with a large aqueduct of probable Hadrianic date which passes nearby. In addition, the end of a late Republican aqueduct, hewn out of the tufa rock, was discovered beneath Building A. The building had at least four different building phases: the first can be dated to the early Augustan period and the last to the Hadrianic period. In addition, the basin seems to have been reused in late Antiquity as a lime kiln. The spina-wall of the ambulatorium of the so-called Villa Lolli Paolini was cleaned of vegetation, and it became apparent that a double water channel was attached to the south side of it, continuing all the way to its double exedra in the west. The fact that the Hadrianic aqueduct mentioned above, which presumably lead water into Hadrian’s Villa, seems to begin behind the western exedra of the ambulatorium, raises interesting questions regarding where this water came from.
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Preliminary investigations carried out inside the Ambasciatori Palace Hotel (Via V. Veneto, Rome) brought to light several rooms delimited by opus reticulatum and opus testaceum walls, with floors in opus spicatum, cocciopesto and black... more
Preliminary investigations carried out inside the Ambasciatori Palace Hotel (Via V. Veneto, Rome) brought to light several rooms delimited by opus reticulatum and opus testaceum walls, with floors in opus spicatum, cocciopesto and black and white mosaics. By combining these archaeological remains with those discovered in the area from the end of the 19th century onwards, it’s possible to reconstruct the layout of a building, which can be interpreted as a horreum of the Horti Sallustiani, with construction phases dating from the first half of the 1st century AD.
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This article describes the results of the first campaign of documentation of the archaeological evidence on the island of S. Nicola (Tremiti islands). This paper intends to acquire data on the archaeological potential of the islands to... more
This article describes the results of the first campaign of documentation of the archaeological evidence on the island of S. Nicola (Tremiti islands). This paper intends to acquire data on the archaeological potential of the islands to plan future re- search. The state of knowledge on the ancient population is rather incomplete and is based on old archaeological research. Thanks to this first campaign, it was possible to identify a structure known only from archive sources (a coastal military tower). Furthermore, new hypotheses have been advanced about the period of construction of the main archaeological el- ements of the island: the necropolis, the water basin, the cistern and the rustic cryptoporticus. These findings shed new light on the island’s history. The article closes with a series of historical problems that we will try to solve through a careful planning of future research (survey, geophysical prospecting, remote sensing and excavation).
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The 2019 excavation campaign of Villa A in Dragoncello (Acilia) represents the continuation of the previous interview interventions, realised by the same team, in the years 2016 and 2017. The activities primarily included a series of... more
The 2019 excavation campaign of Villa A in Dragoncello (Acilia) represents the continuation of the previous interview interventions, realised by the same team, in the years 2016 and 2017. The activities primarily included a series of geophysical surveys, carried out along the S and W sides of the Villa. Later, these surveys have been extended to the northern part of the park where the Villa is located, which had never been investigated archaeologically before, with the aim of verifying the possible presence of ancient structures. During the 2019 campaign, excavations were carried out on the so called Ambiente V, which had been partially investigated in the previous two campaigns, and the Sector C, newly discovered, for a total area of 350mq.
In particular, the investigations of the Ambiente V concerned the Northern part, for a total of 81mq, with the further aim of identifying an entrance and the intended use of the structure.
In Sector C, investigated for 230mq, three basins, relating to at least three different chronological phases, and some other walls, were identified. These structures, perhaps intended for the production of wine, are particularly useful for the reconstruction of the production system of the villa and may open up a very interesting line of research relating to the ancient rural landscape of the territory of Ostia.
In particular, the investigations of the Ambiente V concerned the Northern part, for a total of 81mq, with the further aim of identifying an entrance and the intended use of the structure.
In Sector C, investigated for 230mq, three basins, relating to at least three different chronological phases, and some other walls, were identified. These structures, perhaps intended for the production of wine, are particularly useful for the reconstruction of the production system of the villa and may open up a very interesting line of research relating to the ancient rural landscape of the territory of Ostia.
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The Pian del Marmo estate is located along the modern Via di Boccea, in the western suburb of Rome. In the last forty years, the area has returned numerous archaeological remains, sometimes casually come to light (Roman villa, hydraulic... more
The Pian del Marmo estate is located along the modern Via di Boccea, in the western suburb of Rome. In the last forty years, the area has returned numerous archaeological remains, sometimes casually come to light (Roman villa, hydraulic tunnel), sometimes after preventive archaeology excavations (tuff quarry, roman road). Til today, no research had linked the individual findings, trying to reconstruct the ancient landscapes of this area. Starting from the recent dig concerning a road and a small nucleus of Cappuccina tombs of the imperial age in via Fraconalto, this paper offers a reconstruction of the topographical profile of the area between the Archaic and Late Antique age, illustrating in detail the individual findings.
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The University of Cincinnati, in collaboration with the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio (Cagliari), undertook its first season of archaeological excavations and fieldwork at the Punic-Roman city of Tharros, Sardinia, in... more
The University of Cincinnati, in collaboration with the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio (Cagliari), undertook its first season of archaeological excavations and fieldwork at the Punic-Roman city of Tharros, Sardinia, in the summer of 2019. This report outlines the preliminary results of this first season of activities, while also situating them within an overview of the broader interests of the project. The excavations were carried out in two different and relatively distant areas of the city: one of these areas is identified as a series of Roman shops (tabernae) to the south of a bath complex (Terme II), which had already been cleared down to (and through) the latest floor surfaces during the first systematic excavations of the city in the 1950s; the other area, further north toward the top of the Murru Mannu hill, had never been excavated, and thus provided an opportunity to both delineate urban structures and to investigate the contexts associated with their decline and abandonment. Our investigation of this second area revealed the remains of a Roman shop. The sequences of development for these retail properties revealed construction activities associated with a pre-Imperial period of occupation, with sizable structures adhering to a somewhat different urban configuration than that associated with the Roman era. Most of the surviving architecture, however, dates rather to a period of significant urban development in the 2 nd century CE; it was at this time that we see the construction of shops in both areas. These shops underwent a series of structural developments until about the 5 th century CE, when they appear to go out of use and were subsequently abandoned and ultimately dismantled for their building material to be used elsewhere.
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During the new archaeological research project in Volsinii, the excavation in the area of the forum has revealed significant archaeological data highlighting a new picture of the urban development of the city. The orthogonal road network... more
During the new archaeological research project in Volsinii, the excavation in the area of the forum has revealed significant archaeological data highlighting a new picture of the urban development of the city. The orthogonal road network near the forum and the forum itself were built at the beginning of the 1st century BC, probably when the city was granted the status of a municipium. However, the excavation at the basilica's foundation indicated that it was built in the Augustan period. The arrangement of the basilica on the short side of the forum is also a common arrangement of the forum in the Augustan period.
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Bagni di Roselle (GR, Tuscany, Italy) were public baths built between the end of 1st AD and the early 2nd AD in the ager of Rusellae, a Roman colonia of the ancient Etruria. The baths were built on hot springs still active today and were... more
Bagni di Roselle (GR, Tuscany, Italy) were public baths built between the end of 1st AD and the early 2nd AD in the ager of Rusellae, a Roman colonia of the ancient Etruria. The baths were built on hot springs still active today and were carried out by the imperial administration. The emperor, as the new owner in the ager, was the promoter of some public buildings and among them the urban baths of Roselle and the suburban ones of Bagni di Roselle, the so called Aquae Rusellanae. The complex was built along an important “secondary” road connecting Rusellae with its ports and served as both a therapeutic center and a mansio. The strategic position ensured the occupation of the settlement until the Middle Ages as a cemetery, an occupation that continues today.
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This paper presents the archaeological area of Nomentum-Eretum, situated in the locality of Tor Mancina at Monterotondo (Rome), within the area of the CREA and Macchia di Gattaceca and Macchia del Barco Reserve. The excavations uncovered... more
This paper presents the archaeological area of Nomentum-Eretum, situated in the locality of Tor Mancina at Monterotondo (Rome), within the area of the CREA and Macchia di Gattaceca and Macchia del Barco Reserve. The excavations uncovered a stretch of Roman road and associated cemetery area. The section of road was part of the via Nomentum-Eretum constituting the continuation of the via Nomentana, which having exited the urban centre of Nomentum joined the via Salaria at Eretum.
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An infant grave coming from the Roman necropolis of Monte Carru nearby Alghero – Sardinia, is analyzed in this paper. The area was probably pertaining to the ancient statio of Carbia. From the choroplastic figurines found among the grave... more
An infant grave coming from the Roman necropolis of Monte Carru nearby Alghero – Sardinia, is analyzed in this paper. The area was probably pertaining to the ancient statio of Carbia. From the choroplastic figurines found among the grave goods the identification of the god Telesphoros, son of Aesculapios has permitted the analysis of this god in Sardinia. It allowed the identification of his sister Hygeia and to map the presence in the island of these two salvific deities together with their father.
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In the summer of 2020, the German Archaeological Institute carried out an excavation on Manuzza hill of Selinunte, around 300 m to the north of the Greek agora. The aim was to investigate the stratigraphy in this par- ticular spot, where... more
In the summer of 2020, the German Archaeological Institute carried out an excavation on Manuzza hill of Selinunte, around 300 m to the north of the Greek agora. The aim was to investigate the stratigraphy in this par- ticular spot, where the city of the archaic and classical period was destroyed by the Carthaginians in 409 BC and subsequently transformed into an extra-urban space intended for different purposes. A trench of 5x6 m re- vealed well-preserved remains of a stone building dating to the second half of the 6th century BC, preceded by a construction of unknown appearance dating to the first half of the same century. The layers of destruction associated with city’s conquest at the end of the 5th century were also clearly visible within the trench. In addition, the field campaign determined that limestone blocks from the archaic building were looted, possibly to construct the fortifications of the late 5th century on the acropolis and Manuzza hill. Our studies also revealed that new building activities took place during the first half of the 4th century, characterized by new walls and remains of what seems to be some production process. In the second half of the 4th century, a necropolis was established along the main street to the north. Five tombs of different types and dates were documented. After the resettlement of the inhabitants to Lilybaum in the middle of the 3rd century BC, the area under study was abandoned and subsequently devoted to agricultural use.
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The study of unpublished late antique burials, excavated in the 1970s on the Collina del Castello in Heraclea Lucana, offered the opportunity for a new overview of the history of this city in the Imperial Age, through a synthesis of the... more
The study of unpublished late antique burials, excavated in the 1970s on the Collina del Castello in Heraclea Lucana, offered the opportunity for a new overview of the history of this city in the Imperial Age, through a synthesis of the currently known archaeological documentation.
The grave goods, of 7 out of 12 burials, allow us to date the tombs between the end of the 4th and 5th centuries AD. The necropolis is to be attributed to the last inhabitants of the neighborhood in the central sector of the Colle del Castello.
The grave goods, of 7 out of 12 burials, allow us to date the tombs between the end of the 4th and 5th centuries AD. The necropolis is to be attributed to the last inhabitants of the neighborhood in the central sector of the Colle del Castello.
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The site of S’Arcu ‘e is Forros, in the Ogliastra (prov. Nuoro), is an interesting settlement that has been excavated since the 1980s. In 2015 a project carried out a conservative restoration and the complete excavation of the hut 2 with... more
The site of S’Arcu ‘e is Forros, in the Ogliastra (prov. Nuoro), is an interesting settlement that has been excavated since the 1980s. In 2015 a project carried out a conservative restoration and the complete excavation of the hut 2 with the discovery of a new stepped structure. In this paper are presented the results of this research
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In the light of the results of new excavations at Montelabate (PG), this paper discusses economic development in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD of the upper Tiber valley in territory of the municipia of Arna and Asisium on the left bank of... more
In the light of the results of new excavations at Montelabate (PG), this paper discusses economic development in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD of the upper Tiber valley in territory of the municipia of Arna and Asisium on the left bank of the river Tiber and its tributary Chiascio. Following the centuriation and land distribution to the Octavian veterans, a system of villas and farms developed as well as kilns to support agricultural production, which was centred around wine. In this economic framework amphorae production was crucial, so this paper introduces new data on these containers manufactured in the industrial complex of Montelabate, where seven kilns have been excavated, with comparisons with other kiln production sites.
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The excavation of 2019 in the Lucanian settlement of Caselle in Pittari (SA) led to the discovery of a metallurgical work- shop, located in the center of the site, near the main plateia that crosses it from north to south. The building is... more
The excavation of 2019 in the Lucanian settlement of Caselle in Pittari (SA) led to the discovery of a metallurgical work- shop, located in the center of the site, near the main plateia that crosses it from north to south. The building is perfectly integrated into the topographical system of the site but, at the current stage of the investigations, it is not yet clear whether this workshop is part of a house or is an exclusively artisanal structure. The discovery is particularly important since metal- lurgical workshops are generally indicted by extremely light traces, which do not allow the identification of all the spaces relating to the different phases of the processing cycle. In the case of Caselle in Pittari, although the survey area is very limited, it was possible to identify, in addition to many remains of iron slag, the bottom of a furnace and a casting basin with two terracotta crucibles. The expansion of the excavation should permit the acquisition of new elements to better under- stand the functional organization of the workshop and its relationship with the rest of the site.
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During the archaeological excavations at the castrum Loppio-Sant’Andrea (Trentino, Italy), 1041 transport amphora sherds were collected. The amphora types recorded are quite numerous and indicate a provision of foodstuffs from different... more
During the archaeological excavations at the castrum Loppio-Sant’Andrea (Trentino, Italy), 1041 transport amphora sherds were collected. The amphora types recorded are quite numerous and indicate a provision of foodstuffs from different regions of the Mediterranean. The chronological range runs from the mid fifth century to the end of the seventh century AD. A select- ed sample of 10 amphorae belonging to the Types Keay LII, spatheion, LR1, LR2, LR4 and Samos Cistern Type have been analysed using GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) in order to characterize the organic residues absorbed in the ceramic material and to shed light on the transported (and/or stored) foodstuff.
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In the central reservation between the dual carriageways of via di Acqua Acetosa Ostiense, near the modern overpass of via Cristoforo Colombo, archaeological investigations revealed the ancient passageway of Via Laurentina. It is located... more
In the central reservation between the dual carriageways of via di Acqua Acetosa Ostiense, near the modern overpass of via Cristoforo Colombo, archaeological investigations revealed the ancient passageway of Via Laurentina. It is located in the basin of the Fosso di Vallerano where the alluvial valley lead to the volcanic area of the Colli Albani. The field investiga- tions revealed the best approach used by the Romans in building the road, overcoming the morphological obstacles of this territory like hills, plateaus and alluvial valleys. Also the proximity of the river with its floods led the repair of the Roman road up to five times, dating from the late Republic to the 3rd Century AD. The excavation established the exact relationship between the climate events, described by the ancient authors, and the alluvial deposits that covered the road levels. Also the stratigraphy revealed evidence of the road works made by the Roman Government for the consular road network maintenance.
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The site of S. Gada (Laino Borgo, CS) is located along the upper course of the Lao-Mercure valley, in the area of the Pollino National Park. Between June and July 2019 the DICAM of the University of Messina carried out an excavation in... more
The site of S. Gada (Laino Borgo, CS) is located along the upper course of the Lao-Mercure valley, in the area of the Pollino National Park. Between June and July 2019 the DICAM of the University of Messina carried out an excavation in the southern area of the site, where previous investigations had highlighted a vast and very dense range of pottery and stone blocks. The results of the excavations allowed us to hypothesize the presence of a large settlement with a life that spans from the second half of the 6th century BC to the 3rd century BC.
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This is a first work of synthesis of new data along a revision of some well-known elements of the archaeological area of nuraghe San Pietro and its surroundings. Thanks to a series of excavation campaigns conducted by the Soprintendenza... more
This is a first work of synthesis of new data along a revision of some well-known elements of the archaeological area of nuraghe San Pietro and its surroundings. Thanks to a series of excavation campaigns conducted by the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Sassari e Nuoro from 1973 to 1988 is now possible to hypothesize a reconstruction of the life of the site during the Roman and Late Antique phases, thanks to the recovery of the stratigraphic features and the archaeological material. This paper delineates a new perspective on San Pietro’s archaeological site comprehending the nuraghe and the enigmatic building located 50 meters from the protohistoric monument.
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During the 2019 excavation campaign, in the archaeological site of "Campo Santa Maria" in Amiternum, in some rooms belonging to the imperial age plant, originally intended for domestic and service roles (Building F, Period III),... more
During the 2019 excavation campaign, in the archaeological site of "Campo Santa Maria" in Amiternum, in some rooms belonging to the imperial age plant, originally intended for domestic and service roles (Building F, Period III), consistent traces of metallurgical and metal activities have been found, ascibable to the reconversions of use of the spaces, that took place during the 5th-6th century. During the construction of baptistery in the episcopal complex, the area in front was used for the realization of some forges, useful to recycling metal belonging to the factories, that persist in the area. The site, therefore, is part of the very widespread hystorical cases in late ancient Italy, attribuitable to the reuse and systematic dispossession of public or private buildings, indicative of a process of deconstruction of the ancient city. The site of Campo S. Maria in Amiternum, un-like other areas of the peninsula, offers a different overview because the area, affected by the aforementioned expolations, was at the same time the scene of new building events which, shortly thereafter, would have constituted a new centripetal pole for the city being redefined.
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The Area Scheibler, located in the Western outskirts of Pisa, has been the site of discoveries and rescue excavations since the 1980s. These testified to the long-lasting history of this sector of the ancient suburb – formerly crossed by... more
The Area Scheibler, located in the Western outskirts of Pisa, has been the site of discoveries and rescue excavations since the 1980s. These testified to the long-lasting history of this sector of the ancient suburb – formerly crossed by the Auser river – from the Iron Age to the Early Middle Age, with a consistent Roman phase. The 2020 campaign was the first planned stratigraphic excavation to take place on this site. It was carried out in order to verify the hypothesis that a villa existed on the site and to define both the chronology and the nature of the human settlement in the area. We have thus been able to investigate a complex stratigraphic sequence: the walls and the very well-preserved floor of a farmhouse can be dated back to the Late Republican period. This building was deliberately abandoned during the early decades of the Imperial period, when a new compound with huge walls and a brick, well-developed drainage system was constructed. Between the 3rd and the 4th centuries AD more floods caused the partial destruction of the building. During the 7th century AD a new structure in perishable building materials associated withTunisian fine table ware and amphorae and soapstone cooking pots marked a new occupation of the site, which was finally destroyed by a further alluvial event.
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In its sixth season, the American Excavations at Morgantina: Contrada Agnese Project (CAP) continued archaeological investigations inside the House of the Two Mills, a modestly-appointed house of Hellenistic date located near the western... more
In its sixth season, the American Excavations at Morgantina: Contrada Agnese Project (CAP) continued archaeological investigations inside the House of the Two Mills, a modestly-appointed house of Hellenistic date located near the western edge of the ancient city of Morgantina. This report gives a phase-by-phase summary of the significant discoveries from the 2018 excavation season, highlighting the architectural development of the building as well as evi-dence for the various activities that took place there over the course of its occupation.
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This paper describes the work that has been carried out and the plans for the future of the Pompeii Sustainable Preservation Project (PSPP). The project Has Been operating in the Necropolis of Porta Nocera since 2014. Several partners who... more
This paper describes the work that has been carried out and the plans for the future of the Pompeii Sustainable Preservation Project (PSPP). The project Has Been operating in the Necropolis of Porta Nocera since 2014. Several partners who support and actively work in the project offer here an overview of their research (conservation, digital documentation, education) and the general aims of this project, which is to future-oriented and truly at aims formulating a sustainable plan for the conservation of the burial area of port Nocera.
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The conservation of the early Islamic Bath at Volubilis in the North-West of Morocco led to the discovery of unknown aspects of the hydraulic system of the building in addition to the realisation of the rst archaeological conservation... more
The conservation of the early Islamic Bath at Volubilis in the North-West of Morocco led to the discovery of unknown aspects of the hydraulic system of the building in addition to the realisation of the rst archaeological conservation work in the country which aimed to preserve the ruins and reconstruct the bath structures for future presentation to the public.
The conservation work of the bath represents the earliest known use of traditional and local material and labour in conservation project in the country, as well as its consolidation and preparation for display.
The conservation work of the bath represents the earliest known use of traditional and local material and labour in conservation project in the country, as well as its consolidation and preparation for display.
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The discovery of Pompeii, even more than that of Herculaneum, presented the Neapolitan antiquarians and the Bourbon Court, already engaged in financing the first exploits in archaeology of the young Kingdom of Naples, with an entirely new... more
The discovery of Pompeii, even more than that of Herculaneum, presented the Neapolitan antiquarians and the Bourbon Court, already engaged in financing the first exploits in archaeology of the young Kingdom of Naples, with an entirely new set of problems, new even compared to an Italian tradition of the excavation of antiquities by now several centuries old, particularly in Rome and its neighborhood, as at Hadrian’s villa at Tivoli. There is no doubt, in the light of its history that the conservation of Pompeii is a problem of such a size and from such ancient roots as to require, beside such specific interventions, long-term structural solutions.
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In the area of Rome between the Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Titus, and at the foothills of the impressive foundations of the Vigna Barberini terrace, are found the north-western slopes of the Palatine hill, occupied by some... more
In the area of Rome between the Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Titus, and at the foothills of the impressive foundations of the Vigna Barberini terrace, are found the north-western slopes of the Palatine hill, occupied by some partially unknown and exceptionally well- preserved buildings. Current investigations on this outstanding building palimpsest have enriched this urban background, already extremely rich in its memories, with new constructions and new documents from a three thousand-year history, providing elements essential to the understanding of the settlement dynamics and the development of this fundamental portion of the historical city. The discovery of these new and fragile structures led to the need for a restoration project, guided by a critical interpretation of the current situation, focused on the conservation and enhancement of the surviving buildings, and also on the facilitation of the explanation and interpretation of such extremely stratified structures, carried out with respect for the identified features and the authenticity of the original materials.
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The walls and ceiling plasters from the Domus Valeriorum corridor on Celio hill were discovered at St. Giovanni Addolorata hospital during ar-chaeological excavations in 2005; they were partly detached and partly recovered from a... more
The walls and ceiling plasters from the Domus Valeriorum corridor on Celio hill were discovered at St. Giovanni Addolorata hospital during ar-chaeological excavations in 2005; they were partly detached and partly recovered from a collapsed state, and have been restored in the laborato-ry in the following years. Agreements between Rome Cultural Heritage Superintendence and St. Giovanni Addolorata Hospital made possible these complex operations of excavation, restoration and conservation, leading to a museum project for these extraordinary discoveries. Along with the still in progress restoration work, an in-depth study on the architecture and paintings reconstruction has been conducted. The results, here presented for the first time, permitted to make three-dimensional reconstructions of the structures, through the analysis of the still standing and collapsed walls, and the architectural volumes, considering the previous findings and the orography of the area too. The studies also focused on the reconstruction of the walls and ceiling decorations.
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This article presents the results of a systematic survey (covering an area of 30 sq. km) and the palaeoenvironmental analyses in the Egnatia area (Fasano, BR), both carried out by the University of Bari Aldo Moro to provide for the first... more
This article presents the results of a systematic survey (covering an area of 30 sq. km) and the palaeoenvironmental analyses in the Egnatia area (Fasano, BR), both carried out by the University of Bari Aldo Moro to provide for the first time an insight into settlements patterns and exploitation strategies of natural resources. Rural landscape transformations can be read over a long chronological span, from Prehistory to the late Middle Ages, with the most important evidence for the Roman period and Late Antiquity, which relate to the history of the city, now better understood thanks to the ongoing excavation project started in 2001. The research shows an organic settlement framework of the entire area, closely linked to the sea and its resources, as confirmed by studies of the material culture.
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The Monti Lucretili Landscape Project (MoLuLaP) aims to reconstruct the long-term landscape history of a mountainous area northeast of Tivoli (Latium, Italy), included in the Monti Lucretili Regional Natural Park. One of the main aims of... more
The Monti Lucretili Landscape Project (MoLuLaP) aims to reconstruct the long-term landscape history of a mountainous area northeast of Tivoli (Latium, Italy), included in the Monti Lucretili Regional Natural Park. One of the main aims of the research project is to look at the changing patterns of economic activity that have affected the landscape over time, such as agricultural exploitation, pastoralism, and transhumance practices, and their effects on the environment and on the settlement pattern. The first archaeological survey campaigns between 2020 and 2022 focused on the Montefalco castle, one of several deserted medieval castles in the area, and the surrounding landscape, and were conducted by the Department of Humanities of the University of Roma Tre. The fortified villages formed a network of highly nucleated fortified centres, each controlling and exploiting a well-defined micro-region within the wider area, which are selected as optimal sample research units to be investigated in the long-term.
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This paper presents a re-analysis of legacy survey data to study the late antique and early medieval road system of the Brindisi plain. Using the available survey datasets and taking into consideration the heterogeneity in recording... more
This paper presents a re-analysis of legacy survey data to study the late antique and early medieval road system of the Brindisi plain. Using the available survey datasets and taking into consideration the heterogeneity in recording methods, a standardized database of archaeological sites has been created and analyzed through archaeogeography approaches. The results suggest that the important role of vici – independent or linked to latifundia and the villa landscape – continued during the Ostrogothic period despite the economic decline of the area. Villages seem to have remained the main attracting poles in the countryside due to the establishment of Christian churches which, considering their location at the main intersections and road axes, possibly became control centers of the territory in the Lombard period.
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The “Bassa Romandiola” project was promoted by the University of Bologna and the “Centro di Studi sulla Romandiola Nord Occidentale” with the aim of investigating the north-western part of the Ravenna region (Italy), the so-called Bassa... more
The “Bassa Romandiola” project was promoted by the University of Bologna and the “Centro di Studi sulla Romandiola Nord Occidentale” with the aim of investigating the north-western part of the Ravenna region (Italy), the so-called Bassa Romagna. In this paper, we present the synthesis of the results of the 2018 field campaign, which focused on the area of Cotignola (RA) and included an artefact survey and five targeted manual auger cores. Despite the biases that affected the data collected, the results shed light on a general transformation that involved this part of the Ravenna region between the 12th and the 14th centuries CE, which caused a settlement selection process and the alteration of the rural landscape and its landforms.
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The ground visibility of the terrain that is surveyed has a clear impact on detecting archaeological finds. Because the resulting distortions may influence the quality of the interpretation of single settlements and settlement patterns,... more
The ground visibility of the terrain that is surveyed has a clear impact on detecting archaeological finds. Because the resulting distortions may influence the quality of the interpretation of single settlements and settlement patterns, various checks of the terrain and the collected data are needed. Therefore, in current survey projects different types of tests and data filtering are increasingly implemented both in the field and in the laboratory as a part of their methodology. However, some of the most important archaeological landscape projects were initiated long before an agreement on a standard methodology for field survey was reached. As a result, legacy datasets have been deemed to be of little value to present-day scholarship due to the current research standards. In this paper, we examine if legacy data can be useful to contemporary research by performing a study comparing legacy data collected by the Forma Italiae survey project to contemporary data collected by the LERC project. The Forma Italiae survey project was carried out in the late 20th century and produced a large dataset of archaeological sites in the area around the ancient town of Venusia (located in Southern Italy). We first analyzed the relationship between surface visibility and the density of identified Hellenistic-period sites by means of a statistical analysis, and then tested the reliability of the legacy site patterns by comparing them with new data recovered from the field in a recent re-survey of this region by our team as a part of the LERC project. We thus assessed the compatibility of the clustered pattern of sites detected by the Forma Italiae and the new LERC field surveys. At odds with more pessimistic estimations, we conclude that on the regional level and coarse scale of analysis the legacy survey data is representative and offers significant evidence to current scholarship for the study of ancient settlement patterns.
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The core objective of ‘Inter Amnes. Archaeology between Enza, Parma and Baganza project’ (SFERA Spaces and Shapes of Ancient Emilia Romagna) is the analysis of the population in the Apennine area, between Val d'Enza and Val Baganza close... more
The core objective of ‘Inter Amnes. Archaeology between Enza, Parma and Baganza project’ (SFERA Spaces and Shapes of Ancient Emilia Romagna) is the analysis of the population in the Apennine area, between Val d'Enza and Val Baganza close to the modern city of Parma (Emilia-Romagna, IT) through 5 extensive surveys (2016-2020) with a view to an upcoming complete survey on the whole territory. The project covers the period from Prehistory to the Middle Ages by integrating the different datasets in a GIS platform that allows easy access, comparison and post-processing needs. A specific focus is on the Roman settlement and its relationship with the ancient route system that we can deduce from classical sources.
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The nuraghe S’Urachi and adjoining site of Su Padrigheddu are a monumental stone tower complex and settlement located in west-central Sardinia. The site has been subject to periodic excavations beginning in the 1940s and has been... more
The nuraghe S’Urachi and adjoining site of Su Padrigheddu are a monumental stone tower complex and settlement located in west-central Sardinia. The site has been subject to periodic excavations beginning in the 1940s and has been excavated since 2013 by the Progetto S’Urachi. These latest excavations have revealed new evidence for habitation at the site from the Bronze Age through the late Roman period, confirming that S’Urachi was an important regional center in antiquity. In conjunction with this work, a multi-phase site survey was carried out to explore wider settlement patterns and land use away from the immediate vicinity of the nuraghe. This included geophysical and microtopographical surveys (2014), an intensive survey using point-sampling (2015), and targeted excavation (2016-2017). This article details the final phase of the site-based survey: the excavation of a series of five trenches, the locations of which were selected on the basis of our survey results. We present the excavation results and their implications for understanding long-term settlement patterns and formation processes at S’Urachi and Su Padrigheddu. We also discuss the relationship between surface and subsurface finds and the methodological implications of these results for survey archaeology at the site and regional scales.
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In this paper we present the preliminary results of the 2019 field survey conducted in the framework of the project “Beyond the border. Study and enhancement of the highlands between Veneto and Trentino”. The aim of this overarching... more
In this paper we present the preliminary results of the 2019 field survey conducted in the framework of the project “Beyond the border. Study and enhancement of the highlands between Veneto and Trentino”. The aim of this overarching project, which applies a multidisciplinary approach, is threefold: to detect in this mountain landscape the main activity areas and reconstruct possible connections between them; to analyse the long-term relationships between Trentino and Prealpine Veneto from prehistory to the present day; and to study the evolving function of this frontier area during periods of conflict/interaction. Several methods were employed to shed light on the above-mentioned research aims: field-walking survey, analysis of aerial photos, ethnographic and archival research, GIS-based landscape analysis and predictive modelling, and LiDAR data for feature detection in wooded areas. The combined use of all these approaches allowed us to identify long-term exploitation activities, which are documented also by both the ethnographic and archaeological data. The major periods of conflict in these areas are also highlighted in the archaeological record. The 2019 survey campaign opens up new research directions such as the future excavation of Bronze Age occupation zones; network and connectivity analysis between Prealpine Veneto and Trentino; hillforts and their interaction with the highlands.
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Mobility and interaction have been primarily analysed from the vantage point of the archaeological sites representing the main hubs of interaction. However, such hubs were always immersed in a continuous landscape which had a considerable... more
Mobility and interaction have been primarily analysed from the vantage point of the archaeological sites representing the main hubs of interaction. However, such hubs were always immersed in a continuous landscape which had a considerable effect on interaction dynamics. An effect that has started to be taken in due consideration only recently.The Roca Archaeological Survey, of which we here present the first preliminary results, tries to integrate our detailed knowledge based on excavations of the site of Roca Vecchia in Apulia, with a systematic multi-period surface investigation able to assess whether and to what extent the surrounding landscape has affected dynamics of interaction recognised in the main site from the bronze age to modern times.
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This paper aims to contribute to the improvement of documentation and archiving standards (conforming to the FAIR principles) for systematic Mediterranean archaeological field survey. It reports on the initial stages of work by the... more
This paper aims to contribute to the improvement of documentation and archiving standards (conforming to the FAIR principles) for systematic Mediterranean archaeological field survey. It reports on the initial stages of work by the authors to build an extension to the CIDOC CRM ontology to accommodate concepts underlying the description of archaeological field survey data. We first constructed, based on our own experience as survey directors, a general process model for archaeological field survey; we then defined the concepts central to such survey practices in consultation with other domain experts; and we produced a draft conversion of these concepts into CIDOC CRM ‘classes’ with the help of members of the CRM Special Interest Group. While this work has resulted in a fairly robust conceptual model of field survey as practiced in the Mediterranean, we also identify and discuss several issues relating to the tension between the desire to enable comparative analysis of survey databases by improving documentation standards, and the apparent inability of the survey domain to achieve standardization of field procedures. Although the process of formally agreeing a CIDOC CRM extension for field survey is a slow one, we believe a global solution to the problem of comparability is worth pursuing over a local, temporary one. We lay out the steps needed to resolve the remaining conceptual issues, to formalise the CRM extension, and to implement it in the form of a ‘mapping’ tool.
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This project considered one of the most understudied phenomena in the North African landscape: that of the transformations that occurred due to the coming of Islam to the Maghreb. We explore this question by applying archaeological... more
This project considered one of the most understudied phenomena in the North African landscape: that of the transformations that occurred due to the coming of Islam to the Maghreb. We explore this question by applying archaeological techniques to the landscape of northern coastal Morocco. This was a zone known to have a long history of occupation from the Stone Age to the present. Surveys were conducted in the area between Tangiers and Asilah, both to identify sites of particular importance and to supply data for an analysis of settlement and land-use during various prehistoric and historic periods, with particular emphasis on the Islamic periods. Methods included detailed and controlled landscape survey (fieldwalking), remote sensing, sounding of selected sites, scientific dating of selected finds, and studies of the local ancient environment. Surface collections of materials helped in the dating and assessment of the settlement types. Soundings were conducted at two sites with important presence of material from the Islamic period, to more precisely date their occupation. More than 250 new sites were identified in the approximately 1000 square kilometer’s area covered by the project, although only a fraction of this region could be intensively surveyed. The main results showed an important presence of Lower Paleolithic sites and a much more intensive rural occupation during the Early and Middle Islamic periods.
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This paper presents the results of the survey project carried out in 2016 and 2017 in the high Molise by a team of the Sapienza University of Rome. The project's aim is an advanced knowledge of human presence in the prehistoric phases in... more
This paper presents the results of the survey project carried out in 2016 and 2017 in the high Molise by a team of the Sapienza University of Rome. The project's aim is an advanced knowledge of human presence in the prehistoric phases in the inland areas of the peninsula, on the reliefs and close to small mountain lakes. Indeed, the territories above 1000 m a.s.l. are poorly known and the information available refers mostly to sporadic findings and, to a lesser extent, to the results of systematic surveys. The investigation has dealt with the global understanding of the evidence relating to human occupation developed at high altitude during the various prehistoric phases in a small area of the Molise region. Moreover, by an ethno-archaeological approach, we are trying to investigate a phenomenon that has characterized the economy of the Apennines from recent prehistory onwards: pastoralism.
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The paper discusses the most recent results achieved by the University of Bologna in the northern Marche region, across the valleys of the Rivers Cesano, Nevola and Misa, within a young project of landscape archaeology mainly focused on... more
The paper discusses the most recent results achieved by the University of Bologna in the northern Marche region, across the valleys of the Rivers Cesano, Nevola and Misa, within a young project of landscape archaeology mainly focused on the systematic employment of non-invasive techniques of investigation and mapping for evaluating buried archaeological assets. Started in 2009, the Mapping the Adriatic Landscape Project has led to the discovery of several sites, enriching the current state of knowledge concerning Iron Age's settlements and, in particular, the presence of Piceni in this sector of the region, which has so far been characterized by significant information gaps. The new activities fit into the background of the long tradition of study in Bologna of the northern Marche, aimed at achieving a better understanding of the dynamics of settlement and of the process of urbanization. In this light the present study is of a particular relevance, allowing us to enhance the framework of occupation during the Iron Age, which in the area considered, still poorly archaeologically documented, remains a complex and fascinating period, characterized by a “cultural melting pot”, with the coexistence and blending of Piceni, Celts and Roman people, but still poorly archaeologically documented.
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The urban area of the ancient city of Eraclea, in the territory of the modern city of Policoro (Basilicata), is morphologically divided into three sections: the upper city, the middle valley and the lower city, distinguished by very... more
The urban area of the ancient city of Eraclea, in the territory of the modern city of Policoro (Basilicata), is morphologically divided into three sections: the upper city, the middle valley and the lower city, distinguished by very evident morphological characteristics. The urban layout of the city of Eraclea is known only in the upper and the lower parts of the city where in addition to the archaeological excavations (in the upper city) data has been added from the archaeological photointerpretation of Schmiedt and R. Chevallier (lower city). The middle valley has always been considered a rural area destined for religious activity. Recent geophysical surveys, carried out to the west of the sacred area called the Vallo, have highlighted the urban layout of the valley with orthogonal road axes in relation to the orientation of the lower city. This represents an unprecedented piece of information that sheds new light on an unknown area never before considered urbanised, and which on the contrary confirms the presence of a grid and road axes and thus demonstrates evident phenomena of urbanisation.
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The nuraghe S’Urachi is a monumental stone tower complex that has served as regional center in the landscape of west-central Sardinia from the Bronze Age to the present day. The site was subject to investigations in the 1940s and 1980s,... more
The nuraghe S’Urachi is a monumental stone tower complex that has served as regional center in the landscape of west-central Sardinia from the Bronze Age to the present day. The site was subject to investigations in the 1940s and 1980s, producing evidence of the construction of the towers as well as for later domestic occupation outside the tower walls in the Punic periods. In-vestigations of the site were re-initiated in 2013, when the Progetto S’Urachi (Brown University, Comune di San Vero Milis) began a collaborative research project aimed at understanding co-lonial encounters and daily life at the nuraghe in the Iron Age and Roman period. In conjunction with the Progetto S’Urachi, a multi-phase site survey was carried out consisting of a geophysical survey (2014), microtopographical survey (2014), intensive survey (2015), and a series of test trenches to confirm survey findings (2016-2017). The goal of the survey was to better understand settlement patterns and land use in the wider landscape surrounding the nuraghe. This article details the results of the first two seasons of site survey, which show that settlement extended far beyond the limits of the modern archaeological site boundaries and that the site was heavily occupied in the Punic and early Roman periods.
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Since 1994 University of Tuscia conducts archeological researches on the site of the roman and medieval city of Ferento, abandoned after the destruction by Viterbese in 1170-1172. The paper presents the first results of the survey... more
Since 1994 University of Tuscia conducts archeological researches on the site of the roman and medieval city of Ferento, abandoned after the destruction by Viterbese in 1170-1172. The paper presents the first results of the survey conducted on the urban area in the 2015 and 2016 campaigns, in order to implement the digital archaeological mapping and to increase the knowledge on the topography and urban setting of a central section of the medieval city. This was obtained thanks to the integration of different non-intrusive research methods: topographic and aerial photography surveys, fieldwalking, radar analysis.
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Ce rapport intérimaire explique la méthodologie et fait état des résultats préliminaires de la première saison du projet « Aux Jardins des Hespérides : l'archéologie rurale de la vallée du Loukkos » (INSAP-UT), qui vise à reconsidérer le... more
Ce rapport intérimaire explique la méthodologie et fait état des résultats préliminaires de la première saison du projet « Aux Jardins des Hespérides : l'archéologie rurale de la vallée du Loukkos » (INSAP-UT), qui vise à reconsidérer le développement de l’économie agricole autour de Lixus, une des cités les plus anciennes d'Afrique du Nord (près de Larache, Maroc), et à mesurer la connectivité et l’intégration régionale de l’arrière- pays en vue de la formation urbaine de Lixus et de l'impact de l'annexion romaine. Par un programme de pros- pections systématiques et non-systématiques, quatorze sites archéologiques des époques préromaine et ro- maine ont été localisés, pour la majeure partie au nord de Lixus. En utilisant la modélisation informatique des données sur les caractéristiques présentes à chaque site ainsi que la quantification des céramiques, la région semble subir un procédé d’intensification de la circulation des biens transportés dans les amphores, ainsi que le peuplement stable dans la campagne plus éloignée, autour du deuxième siècle avant J.-C., bien que les plus fortes concentrations des amphores Dressel 1 ont été trouvées sur les sites à proximité des rivières. Enfin, l'uti- lisation de l'analyse des correspondences multiples est explorée comme une méthode multivariée pour le re- grouppment des sites archéologiques en termes de leurs facteurs materiels, à établir la définition d’un site « de bas en haut », plutôt que prescriptivement.
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The paper presents a systematic study of a parcel that is located in Borgelluzzo district (Avola, SR), in order to create an estate plan commissioned by private individuals. The recovered data, in addition to defining the archaeological... more
The paper presents a systematic study of a parcel that is located in Borgelluzzo district (Avola, SR), in order to create an estate plan commissioned by private individuals. The recovered data, in addition to defining the archaeological discovery risk parameters, provide input for the proposed topographical organization of the area in the Roman period and Late Antiquity. Moreover, the paper will show how the modus operandi of freelance archaeology can provide important results for future research.
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Si presenta in questa sede una sintesi dei risultati emersi dalle campagne 2014-2015 del Pisa South Picenum Survey Project II, relativo alle alte valli dei fiumi Aso e Tenna, nelle Marche meridionali. Dalle ricognizioni intensive... more
Si presenta in questa sede una sintesi dei risultati emersi dalle campagne 2014-2015 del Pisa South Picenum Survey Project II, relativo alle alte valli dei fiumi Aso e Tenna, nelle Marche meridionali. Dalle ricognizioni intensive effettuate nel territorio comunale di Amandola (Provincia di FM) è emerso un fitto popolamento rurale costituito da piccole fattorie, data- bili a partire dalla fine del III sec. a.C., e posizionate all’interno di una griglia centuriale. Questo territorio, con tutta probabilità viritim adsignatus a seguito della lex de agro Gallico et Piceno viritim dividundo del 232 a.C., doveva avvalersi di un polo di aggregazione sociale e amministrativa ubicato nelle vicinanze e ben collegato alla viabilità principale. La posizione strategica, un’accurata analisi dell’assetto centuriale e numerosi rinvenimenti archeologici permettono di identificare questa praefectura nell’area dell’attuale Comunanza dove possiamo localizzare l’antica Novana citata da Plinio (N.H., III, 11), un centro piceno che divenne, forse, un foro, e poi una praefectura ed infine un municipium.
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This paper attempts to demonstrate the importance of the archaeological area of Copio, in province of Terni (Italy). Discov- ered for the first time in the 1980 by the local historian then mentioned in 2001 and in 2003 in two different... more
This paper attempts to demonstrate the importance of the archaeological area of Copio, in province of Terni (Italy). Discov- ered for the first time in the 1980 by the local historian then mentioned in 2001 and in 2003 in two different archaeological publications, the site of Copio started to arouse interest for its position, lying on a hilltop above one of the most interesting pre-Roman necropolis of Umbria (Vallone di San Lorenzo). The link between the well-known necropolis and Copio is today well-accepted. The aim of this paper, based on a field-walking survey and the analisys of the archaeological finds, is to demonstrate the importance of this area during the pre-Roman period as a commercial bridgehead linked to Volsinii. Strate- gically lying only one km to east from the Tiber, it should have enjoyed this important and commercial path for the local trade moving goods in incoming and outcoming.
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The University of Kentucky’s last field season at Monte Palazzi in 2010 included both excavation and a geophysical survey aimed at establishing the boundaries and the structural characteristics of the site, identified as a Greek mountain... more
The University of Kentucky’s last field season at Monte Palazzi in 2010 included both excavation and a geophysical survey aimed at establishing the boundaries and the structural characteristics of the site, identified as a Greek mountain fort of Locri Epizephyrii. Topographical reconnaissances were also conducted between 2010-2012 at locations in the upper Torbido River Valley that could have been used for intersignaling (such as Monte Limina), and at other fortified sites in southern Calabria (e.g. San Salvatore, Serro di Tavola, and Monte Gallo) in order to better understand the functions of a military installation on Monte Palazzi. Excavation was focused upon two adjoining units at the southern end of the summit (E4 and F5), which had been partially investigated in 2008. It uncovered a portion of the fort’s central area, probably an open-air courtyard, and of the inner face of the southern perimeter wall, 2.5 m wide. The construction of this rampart was dated to the first half of the 5th century B.C. by the fineware recovered beneath its foundations. However, there is evidence that a Greek outpost existed at Monte Palazzi at least as early as the second half of the 6th century B.C. The site appears to have been occupied continuously throughout the classical period. It may have been abandoned or destroyed in the first half of the 3rd century B.C., although traces of an abandonment or destruction stratum have not yet been found. A magnetic and an electrical resistance survey have determined that a large structure, encompassing an area of c.1,300 m², occupied the entire summit. Its irregular design followed the contour of the mountaintop, and its general features are consistent with those of other Greek archaic forts within the region. The longer life span of our fort attests to its singular importance as a key node on an overland route connecting Locri to the Tyrrhenian and a control point on the northeastern flank of the Locrian chora.