- Archaeology, Classical Archaeology, Archaeological Method & Theory, Maritime Archaeology, Mediterranean archaeology, Archaeology of Mediterranean Trade, and 41 moreAncient Quarries, Archaeology of Buildings, Ancient construction (Archaeology), Archaeology of Architecture, Roman Republic, Ancient Technology (Archaeology), Ancient economies (Archaeology), Classics: Ancient History and Archaeology, Mediterranean Studies, Archeosismologia, Archaeo-Engineering, Archaeoseismology, Storia delle tecniche costruttive, Maritime History, Trade Routes, Mediterranean, Ports, Port cities, Islands, Insularity, Seafarers, Roman brick and tiles, Ancient Metrology, Selinunte, Ancient Sicily, Greek Sicily, Greek and Roman building techniques, Roman Architecture, Building archaeology, Roman engineering, Archeologia Della Produzione, Call for Papers, Roman Marble trade and distribution, Roman Archaeology, Pompeii (Archaeology), Herculaneum, Palafittes, Quarries Organization and Management, Roman Quarries, Roman Marble Quarries, and Rotary querns and millstonesedit
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Abstract The lithological analysis of the southern facade of the Sarno Baths, a complex building located in the south-western part of the ancient city of Pompeii (Naples, southern Italy), was addressed to define the types of stone used as... more
Abstract The lithological analysis of the southern facade of the Sarno Baths, a complex building located in the south-western part of the ancient city of Pompeii (Naples, southern Italy), was addressed to define the types of stone used as blocks and ashlars of the three nearly completely preserved levels. Lithological analysis, coupled with petrographic (optical and electron microscopy) and mineralogical study of the lithotypes macroscopically defined, revealed the use mainly of volcanic and volcano-clastic rocks, and in particular of: (i) yellow tuff supplied from the yellow facies of the Campanian Ignimbrite (about 39 ky BP); (ii) grey tuff from the Campanian Ignimbrite; (iii) leucite phonolitic tephrite from the lava flows of Somma Vesuvius; (iv) travertine from the Sarno limestone (Calcare del Sarno) (Cretaceous). On the basis of the lithological mapping, the basement results mainly composed of leucite phonolitic tephrite, associated to travertine and sporadically to yellow tuff, whereas the other two overhead levels are mainly constituted by tuff and travertine, respectively. In particular, the tuff distribution on the level upon the basement shows a prevalence of grey tuff on the western portion, yellow tuff on the eastern one and in the opus reticulatum band running all along the facade, and marked at the top by a trachyte stringcourse. Travertine blocks in the uppermost facade were probably placed as integration during the restoration works carried out at the end of the 19th century. The distribution on the facade of elements made of different rock types, characterised by different bulk density and mechanical properties, confirms ancient Roman builders’ deep knowledge on the technical features of these materials and their structural behaviour.
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Com’è noto, le tegole furono i primi manufatti in terracotta ad essere prodotti ed impiegati negli edifici del Mediterraneo antico. Le prime attestazioni di tegole fittili risalgano infatti all’età del Bronzo, e già a partire dall’età... more
Com’è noto, le tegole furono i primi manufatti in terracotta ad essere prodotti ed impiegati negli edifici del Mediterraneo
antico. Le prime attestazioni di tegole fittili risalgano infatti all’età del Bronzo, e già a partire dall’età arcaica in
Grecia e Magna Grecia gli elementi in cotto furono diffusamente utilizzati per la copertura degli edifici. Dal VII secolo
a.C. inoltre i tetti realizzati con elementi fittili fecero la loro comparsa anche a Roma e in ambito etrusco.
Almeno a partire dal IV secolo a.C. però le tegole cominciarono ad essere utilizzate non più solo ed esclusivamente
nelle coperture degli edifici, ma anche nelle strutture murarie. Questa forma di “riuso” delle tegole, che venivano
messe in opera con una funzione diversa da quella per cui erano state prodotte, è un fenomeno che si protrasse a
lungo, anche successivamente al diffondersi del mattone cotto.
È quanto si verifica anche in Italia settentrionale dove, nonostante il mattone cotto fosse conosciuto e utilizzato già
dalla fine del III secolo a.C., per lungo tempo e fino all’età imperiale avanzata le tegole furono impiegate come materia
prima per la costruzione delle strutture murarie.Questo contributo mira dunque ad esaminare nel dettaglio le forme, i modi e i contesti d’uso delle tegole negli edifici
di età romana dell’Italia settentrionale, nel tentativo di comprendere la portata di questo fenomeno e le ragioni economiche
che stanno all’origine di questa diffusa prassi.
antico. Le prime attestazioni di tegole fittili risalgano infatti all’età del Bronzo, e già a partire dall’età arcaica in
Grecia e Magna Grecia gli elementi in cotto furono diffusamente utilizzati per la copertura degli edifici. Dal VII secolo
a.C. inoltre i tetti realizzati con elementi fittili fecero la loro comparsa anche a Roma e in ambito etrusco.
Almeno a partire dal IV secolo a.C. però le tegole cominciarono ad essere utilizzate non più solo ed esclusivamente
nelle coperture degli edifici, ma anche nelle strutture murarie. Questa forma di “riuso” delle tegole, che venivano
messe in opera con una funzione diversa da quella per cui erano state prodotte, è un fenomeno che si protrasse a
lungo, anche successivamente al diffondersi del mattone cotto.
È quanto si verifica anche in Italia settentrionale dove, nonostante il mattone cotto fosse conosciuto e utilizzato già
dalla fine del III secolo a.C., per lungo tempo e fino all’età imperiale avanzata le tegole furono impiegate come materia
prima per la costruzione delle strutture murarie.Questo contributo mira dunque ad esaminare nel dettaglio le forme, i modi e i contesti d’uso delle tegole negli edifici
di età romana dell’Italia settentrionale, nel tentativo di comprendere la portata di questo fenomeno e le ragioni economiche
che stanno all’origine di questa diffusa prassi.
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Aurisina limestone is a type of stone extracted in the Karst region, just a few kilometers away from Trieste (northeastern Italy), which was much used in the Roman Age. The Aurisina quarries belonged to the territory of Aquileia and were... more
Aurisina limestone is a type of stone extracted in the Karst region, just a few kilometers away from Trieste (northeastern Italy), which was much used in the Roman Age.
The Aurisina quarries belonged to the territory of Aquileia and were exploited at least from the 2nd century BC. In ancient times they provided huge quantities of stone, that was used to realize buildings and infrastructure as well as artifacts (e.g. statues, inscriptions, weights, etc.), and was exported to the north of Italy, along the Adriatic coasts and their inland regions.
This paper aims at reconstructing the different steps of the production process of Aurisina limestone, analyzing different topics: the quarrying, transportation, diffusion and use of this stone in the Roman Age.
The Aurisina quarries belonged to the territory of Aquileia and were exploited at least from the 2nd century BC. In ancient times they provided huge quantities of stone, that was used to realize buildings and infrastructure as well as artifacts (e.g. statues, inscriptions, weights, etc.), and was exported to the north of Italy, along the Adriatic coasts and their inland regions.
This paper aims at reconstructing the different steps of the production process of Aurisina limestone, analyzing different topics: the quarrying, transportation, diffusion and use of this stone in the Roman Age.
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As evidenced by the most recent archaeological excavations, in Northern Italy in the Republican age bricks widely spread at a very early stage both in public and private buildings. This paper aims at analysing the currently known bricks’... more
As evidenced by the most recent archaeological excavations, in Northern
Italy in the Republican age bricks widely spread at a very early stage both
in public and private buildings.
This paper aims at analysing the currently known bricks’ evidences found
in the region and realized between the end of the 3rd and the 1st century
BC, by focusing on their contexts and ways of use, in order to understand
why this building material was so much appreciated by Northern-Italy builders.
To better clarify this phaenomenon, the way in which bricks were used in
Northern Italy will be compared with that of other regions, with the final
goal of finding out the inspiring models of Northern-Italy builders for developing the building techniques which spread throughout the region in
the Republican age.
Italy in the Republican age bricks widely spread at a very early stage both
in public and private buildings.
This paper aims at analysing the currently known bricks’ evidences found
in the region and realized between the end of the 3rd and the 1st century
BC, by focusing on their contexts and ways of use, in order to understand
why this building material was so much appreciated by Northern-Italy builders.
To better clarify this phaenomenon, the way in which bricks were used in
Northern Italy will be compared with that of other regions, with the final
goal of finding out the inspiring models of Northern-Italy builders for developing the building techniques which spread throughout the region in
the Republican age.
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Thanks to the archaeological excavations carried out in Aquileia until now, we know that in the Roman Age the water supply of the city was ensured by wells and by an aqueduct composed of pipes that brought the water in the different urban... more
Thanks to the archaeological excavations carried out in Aquileia until now, we know that in the Roman Age
the water supply of the city was ensured by wells and by an aqueduct composed of pipes that brought the
water in the different urban areas. In contrast, tanks were not widespread, probably because the aqueduct
and the wells were enough to meet the water needs of the population.
This paper aims at analysing the whole data available about the hydraulic structures found in the city, to
provide an overview of the features, spread and chronology of the different water supply and distribution
systems used in Aquileia in the Roman Age.
the water supply of the city was ensured by wells and by an aqueduct composed of pipes that brought the
water in the different urban areas. In contrast, tanks were not widespread, probably because the aqueduct
and the wells were enough to meet the water needs of the population.
This paper aims at analysing the whole data available about the hydraulic structures found in the city, to
provide an overview of the features, spread and chronology of the different water supply and distribution
systems used in Aquileia in the Roman Age.
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Programma del IV ciclo di seminari dedicato all'archeologia dell'edilizia "Costruire, costruttori, costruzioni di età romana". I seminari si svolgeranno presso l'Università di Padova tra marzo e aprile 2019.
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Giovedì 10 dicembre 2015 ore 17:30 presso la Crypta Balbi, via delle Botteghe Oscure 31, Roma Presentano il volume: Patrizio Pensabene, Sapienza - Università di Roma Lorenzo Lazzarini, IUAV - Università di Venezia Intervengono:... more
Giovedì 10 dicembre 2015 ore 17:30 presso la Crypta Balbi,
via delle Botteghe Oscure 31, Roma
Presentano il volume:
Patrizio Pensabene, Sapienza - Università di Roma
Lorenzo Lazzarini, IUAV - Università di Venezia
Intervengono:
Mirella serlorenzi, Direttore della Crypta Balbi
Luigi Fozzati, Soprintendenza Archeologia del Friuli Venezia Giulia
Francesca Ghedini, Direttore della Collana Antenor Quaderni
Jacopo Bonetto, Direttore del Dipartimento dei Beni Culturali, Università di Padova
via delle Botteghe Oscure 31, Roma
Presentano il volume:
Patrizio Pensabene, Sapienza - Università di Roma
Lorenzo Lazzarini, IUAV - Università di Venezia
Intervengono:
Mirella serlorenzi, Direttore della Crypta Balbi
Luigi Fozzati, Soprintendenza Archeologia del Friuli Venezia Giulia
Francesca Ghedini, Direttore della Collana Antenor Quaderni
Jacopo Bonetto, Direttore del Dipartimento dei Beni Culturali, Università di Padova
The foundations play a key-role in buildings’ structural dynamics. They transfer and distribute the construction load to the ground, and they are responsible of the stability and durability of structures. Until now, foundation systems... more
The foundations play a key-role in buildings’ structural dynamics. They transfer and distribute the construction load to the ground, and they are responsible of the stability and durability of structures.
Until now, foundation systems used in ancient times have been closely examined in a very few cases, because they are “ghost elements”, often not visible and accordingly difficult to be analyzed.
Data available show that in the Roman Age the foundations were realized carefully, taking care of ground peculiarities, as well as of building materials available and of the size and the load of the building that was being constructed.
The solutions adopted are numerous: the choice of different foundations was determined by the natural context where the building was situated.
Foundation systems diffused in Northern Italy are very interesting. In this region, that is an alluvial plain characterized by wet and soft ground and by the presence of numerous rivers, marshes and a cropping-out water-bearing stratum, were used foundation systems totally different from those used in Rome or in other regions of central Italy, but very similar to those used in other regions situated in an analogous natural context.
The foundations realized with timber were very diffused. Alongside the famous timber-pilings, system of proto-historical origin mentioned by Vitruvius (Vitr., III, 4, 2), there were other foundation techniques that required timber, and in particular beams and boards, used in different and unusual ways.
Another innovative system to better ground’s features, less known but largely used, is that of “multi-layered foundations”. It consists in placing, at the base of structures, alternate layers of selected materials, and in particular layers of draining materials, like gravel or ceramic elements, and layers of insulating materials, like clay or silt.
Another system used in Northern Italy to better ground’s conditions and to solve problems linked to the cropping-out water-bearing stratum consisted in placing groups of amphorae disposed vertically or horizontally, at the base of structures and infrastructures.
The analysis of Northern Italy foundations show that Roman engineers were able, on the one hand, to introduce technical knowledge imported from other contexts and, on the other hand, to adopt local constructive traditions, intentionally developed to solve problems linked to ground’s features, and to obtain solid and lasting constructions. The variety of foundation systems and technical solutions adopted in Northern Italy in the Roman Age shows, once again, the advanced engineering skills and knowledge of Roman builders.
Until now, foundation systems used in ancient times have been closely examined in a very few cases, because they are “ghost elements”, often not visible and accordingly difficult to be analyzed.
Data available show that in the Roman Age the foundations were realized carefully, taking care of ground peculiarities, as well as of building materials available and of the size and the load of the building that was being constructed.
The solutions adopted are numerous: the choice of different foundations was determined by the natural context where the building was situated.
Foundation systems diffused in Northern Italy are very interesting. In this region, that is an alluvial plain characterized by wet and soft ground and by the presence of numerous rivers, marshes and a cropping-out water-bearing stratum, were used foundation systems totally different from those used in Rome or in other regions of central Italy, but very similar to those used in other regions situated in an analogous natural context.
The foundations realized with timber were very diffused. Alongside the famous timber-pilings, system of proto-historical origin mentioned by Vitruvius (Vitr., III, 4, 2), there were other foundation techniques that required timber, and in particular beams and boards, used in different and unusual ways.
Another innovative system to better ground’s features, less known but largely used, is that of “multi-layered foundations”. It consists in placing, at the base of structures, alternate layers of selected materials, and in particular layers of draining materials, like gravel or ceramic elements, and layers of insulating materials, like clay or silt.
Another system used in Northern Italy to better ground’s conditions and to solve problems linked to the cropping-out water-bearing stratum consisted in placing groups of amphorae disposed vertically or horizontally, at the base of structures and infrastructures.
The analysis of Northern Italy foundations show that Roman engineers were able, on the one hand, to introduce technical knowledge imported from other contexts and, on the other hand, to adopt local constructive traditions, intentionally developed to solve problems linked to ground’s features, and to obtain solid and lasting constructions. The variety of foundation systems and technical solutions adopted in Northern Italy in the Roman Age shows, once again, the advanced engineering skills and knowledge of Roman builders.
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Aurisina’s limestone is a stone extracted in the Karst region, in a basin situated just a few kilometers far from Trieste. This stone has been largerly used in the Roman Age because of its aesthetical and physical qualities. The... more
Aurisina’s limestone is a stone extracted in the Karst region, in a basin situated just a few kilometers far from Trieste. This stone has been largerly used in the Roman Age because of its aesthetical and physical qualities. The Aurisina’s quarries, situated in Aquileia’s territory and under the control of the city, were exploited at least from the I century B.C. They provided huge quantity of stone, that was used for buildings and infrastructures as well as for decorative elements and different kinds of artifacts (statues, inscriptions, weights, etc.).
This paper aims at reconstructing the different stages of the production process of Aurisina’s limestone, analyzing different topics, that are quarrying, transport, diffusion and use of this stone in the cities of the North of Italy and of the Adriatic basin.
On the one hand, the attention is focused on Aurisina’s quarries, attempting to define exploitation dynamics in the Roman Age, as well as to reconstruct transport logistics from quarries to building sites.
On the other hand, the attention is focused on structures, infrastructures and artifacts made of Aurisina’s limestone and found in the cities of the North of Italy and of the Adriatic basin, that will be considered to reconstruct commercial fluxes and to understand the economic role of Aurisina’s extraction basin in the Roman age.
This paper aims at reconstructing the different stages of the production process of Aurisina’s limestone, analyzing different topics, that are quarrying, transport, diffusion and use of this stone in the cities of the North of Italy and of the Adriatic basin.
On the one hand, the attention is focused on Aurisina’s quarries, attempting to define exploitation dynamics in the Roman Age, as well as to reconstruct transport logistics from quarries to building sites.
On the other hand, the attention is focused on structures, infrastructures and artifacts made of Aurisina’s limestone and found in the cities of the North of Italy and of the Adriatic basin, that will be considered to reconstruct commercial fluxes and to understand the economic role of Aurisina’s extraction basin in the Roman age.
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A combined reading of the information provided by literary sources and by the material evidence unearthed through archaeological investigations shows how in the Roman age wood was widely used in construction, in different forms and with... more
A combined reading of the information provided by literary sources and by the material evidence unearthed through archaeological investigations shows how in the Roman age wood was widely used in construction, in different forms and with different functions. In fact, it was a material that was commonly used both for the manufacture of temporary scaffolding on building sites (formwork, ribs, etc.) and for the construction of structural elements which were integral part of buildings (walls, floors, roofing, etc.). Among the many ways in which wood was used, its use in foundation and subfoundation structures stands out, in terms of the variety of solutions adopted and the number of finds. These elements, although often “hidden” or barely visible, were fundamental to ensuring stability, solidity and durability of buildings.
This contribution aims to examine precisely this latter aspect and seeks to draw a picture of the ways in which wood was used at the foundational level in Roman buildings, comparing the data available and provided by archaeological research conducted in various regions of the Roman world.
This contribution aims to examine precisely this latter aspect and seeks to draw a picture of the ways in which wood was used at the foundational level in Roman buildings, comparing the data available and provided by archaeological research conducted in various regions of the Roman world.