In a recent shallow-water archaeological survey conducted along the coast north of Rome, near Santa Marinella, at a mean depth of 1.5 m and 90 m from the shoreline, two significant assemblage of bioclastic calcarenite ashlar blocks were identified. The ashlars of the shore parallel feature are arranged in double parallel row extending approximately 5 m in a NW-SE orientation. The arrangement of the ashlars encloses an internal space in places filled with boulders and small stones, forming a structure that resemble of a mole. A narrow canal formed by a double row of ashlars provided a connection between the internal space and the open water, facilitating water circulation and possibly mitigating the silting of the port basin. The shore-parallel mole continues northwest, including additional blocks and natural rocks, and then turns 90 degrees forming a possible shore-normal mole forming a L-shaped configuration encompassing a 3,0 0 0m2 basin. The area is located in close proximity (130 m) to the Etruscan temple Punta della Vipera, funded in the sixth-century BCE and deeply re-built in the late fourth century BCE. Assuming the probable function of two structures (conglomerate A and ashlar U), as the ancient walking surface of the mole, the fact that they are currently submerged at a depth of 0.50-0.60 m, let us suppose an ancient sea level at least 1.20-1.40 metres lower than the present one; this observation, along with archaeological considerations point out for the construction of the structure around the end of the 4th the beginning of the 3rd century BCE. If confirmed, the findings represent the earliest known evidence of a landing site associated with an Etruscan temple. (c) 2026 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, training, and similar technologies.

This short contribution presents some considerations that emerged following the recent restoration and museum display of the wooden anchor from the Roman Era, found in 1990 at the Lido of Tarquinia, published in 1997 by Valeria D'Atri and currently preserved in the "Museum of the Sea and Ancient Navigation" in the Castle of Santa Severa, on the northern coast of Rome. Coinciding with the restoration work, a new detailed analysis of the characteristics of the artefact was carried out with a reconsideration of the context of discovery, in the light of some new information gathered in the field and considering data from the most recent studies on the ancient sea level along the southern coast of Etruria.

This contribution is dedicated to illustrating the results of ongoing research by the Polo Museale Civico di Santa Marinella in relation to the ancient landing of Pyrgi located on the coasts of southern Etruria, today the north coast of Rome. It is a well-known ancient port, probably of prehistoric origin, controlled in Etruscan times by the city of Cerveteri and in Roman times the site of a maritime colony, deduced in the first half of the third century BC, coinciding with the outbreak of the First Punic War. The site of Pyrgi continues its life in imperial and late antiquity and then is transformed into the Civitas Sanctae Severae, current Castle of Santa Severa. A historical event of long duration and interest that new excavations and underwater research are trying to define in relation to topographical and archaeological aspects, as well as in relation to ancient coastal landscapes and port facilities.

The contribution shows the first results of ongoing research on the origins and prehistoric assumptions of the well-known Etruscan and Roman harbour of Pyrgi, an ancient Ceretan harbour in southern Etruria. In the light of recent land and submarine investigations, traces of ancient frequentations and contacts dating back to the Neolithic era are emerging when the coastal morphology and environmental characteristics of the site were very different from the current ones. The Etruscan port of Pyrgi, which continues its historical history in Roman and Medieval times, appears as the heir of one or more landing points frequented perhaps already in the Middle Neolithic. As part of this contribution, around 60 obsidian finds (waste resulting from the manufacture of arrowheads) were analyzed using the LA-ICP-MS technique (Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry). The comparison between the data obtained on the archaeological finds and the bibliographic data relating to the geological obsidians of the peri-Tyrrhenian area allowed the identification of the provenance of the finds. In particular, most of the finds can be attributed to the Aeolian area, highlighting the leading role played by the Aeolian archipelago in the development of trade of this material. Other sources of supply have been identified on the island of Palmarola and in Sardinia (Monte Arci) although with a lower incidence. The discovery of numerous findings in obsidian from overseas, which took place in the area immediately surrounding Pyrgi, offers different suggestions about the origin of the docking place, with traces of centuries-old frequentation, extended from the Neolithic to the modern era.

This paper deals with the formulation of innovative mortars for the consolidation of archeological structures in underwater environment. The research was conducted within the frame of the MaTaCoS project (Advanced materials and technologies applied to the conservation of underwater cultural heritage) funded by MISE (Italian Ministry of Economic Development). The project concerns the design of advanced tools and methods for the protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, through specific cleaning and consolidating procedures to be applied directly in situ. The fishpond of the archaeological site of Castrum Novum (Santa Marinello, Rome, Italy) was chosen as a pilot site for experimentation. It is a structure on the coastline, composed of only one tank, with an average immersion of 0.37 m below the sea level, and developing with an NE/SW orientation. The masonry structures reach the maximum thickness at the apex of the fishpond (4.70 m) and consist of a concrete conglomerate composed of slightly rough stones of medium size bound with non-hydraulic mortar. Selected mortars' fragments taken from the fishpond were characterized by means of minero-petrographic technique in order to define their main constituents from a compositional and textural point of view and also to identify the various degradation processes, mainly biological colonization. Starting from the acquired information, innovative mortars were formulated with the addition of two different anti-fouling additives aimed to slow down the above-mentioned degradation. The efficacy of the anti-fouling products was tested on specimens settled in laboratory environment (artificial marine environment). This information could be useful both for the definition of restoration interventions and for planning preservation protocols to be applied in this peculiar environment.

Sea level rise is one of the main risk factors for the preservation of cultural heritage sites located along the coasts of the Mediterranean basin. Coastal retreat, erosion, and storm surges are posing serious threats to archaeological and historical structures built along the coastal zones of this region. In order to assess the coastal changes by the end of 2100 under the expected sea level rise of about 1 m, we need a detailed determination of the current coastline position based on high resolution Digital Surface Models (DSM). This paper focuses on the use of very high-resolution Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) imagery for the generation of ultra-high-resolution mapping of the coastal archaeological area of Pyrgi, Italy, which is located near Rome. The processing of the UAV imagery resulted in the generation of a DSM and an orthophoto with an accuracy of 1.94 cm/pixel. The integration of topographic data with two sea level rise projections in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) AR5 2.6 and 8.5 climatic scenarios for this area of the Mediterranean are used to map sea level rise scenarios for 2050 and 2100. The effects of the Vertical Land Motion (VLM) as estimated from two nearby continuous Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations located as close as possible to the coastline are included in the analysis. Relative sea level rise projections provide values at 0.30 ± 0.15 cm by 2050 and 0.56 ± 0.22 cm by 2100 for the IPCC AR5 8.5 scenarios and at 0.13 ± 0.05 cm by 2050 and 0.17 ± 0.22 cm by 2100, for the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) 2.6 scenario. These values of rise correspond to a potential beach loss between 12.6% and 23.5% in 2100 for Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6 and 8.5 scenarios, respectively, while, during the highest tides, the beach will be provisionally reduced by up to 46.4%. In higher sea level positions and storm surge conditions, the expected maximum wave run up for return time of 1 and 100 years is at 3.37 m and 5.76 m, respectively, which is capable to exceed the local dune system. With these sea level rise scenarios, Pyrgi with its nearby Etruscan temples and the medieval castle of Santa Severa will be exposed to high risk of marine flooding, especially during storm surges. Our scenarios show that suitable adaptation and protection strategies are required.

A multidisciplinary approach, combining stable isotope analysis from bone proteins and investigations on dental calculus using DNA analysis, light microscopy, and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, was applied to reconstruct dietary and medicinal habits of the individuals recovered in the cemetery of the Castle of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries CE; Rome, Italy). Stable isotope analysis was performed on 120 humans, 41 faunal specimens and 8 charred seeds. Dental calculus analyses were carried out on 94 samples. Overall, isotope data indicated an omnivorous diet based on C3-terrestrial protein, although some individuals possessed carbon values indicative of C4 plant consumption. In terms of animal protein, the diet was probably based on cattle, sheep, pig and chicken products, as witnessed by the archaeozoological findings. Evidence from calculus suggested the consumption of C3 cereals, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, milk and dairy products. Secondary metabolites of herbs and wine were also detected. The detection of marine fish ancient DNA, as well as of ω3 fatty acids in calculus, hypothesized the consumption of marine foodstuffs for this coastal population, despite the lack of a clear marine isotopic signal and the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in plant tissues. Moreover, the knowledge of ethnopharmacological tradition and the application of medicinal plants (e.g. Punica granatum L., Ephedra sp. L.) were also identified. The detection of artemisinin, known to have antimalarial properties, led to hypothesize the presence of malaria in the area. Altogether, the combined application of microscopy and biomolecular techniques provided an innovative reconstruction of Medieval lifeways in Central Italy.

This paper aims to carry out an archaeometric characterization of mortar samples taken from an underwater environment. The fishpond of the archaeological site of Castrum Novum (Santa Marinella, Rome, Italy) was chosen as a pilot site for experimentation. The masonry structures reached the maximum thickness at the apex of the fishpond (4.70 m) and consisted of a concrete conglomerate composed of slightly rough stones of medium size bound with non-hydraulic mortar. After sampling, for a complete characterization of selected mortar fragments, different and complementary techniques (stereomicroscopy, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction analysis) were carried out in order to: a) define the minero-petrographic features; and b) investigate their state of conservation. The obtained data allowed the determination of the main constituents of mortars from a compositional point of view. The raw materials, in fact, were quite homogeneous, as well as the ratio in which they were mixed, confirming the typical "recipe" used in Roman times to manufacture hydraulic-type mortars by adding pozzolana. At the same time, it was possible to identify the various degradation processes we were interested in, namely, biological colonization (bio-fouling) that develops differently according to environmental conditions. Based on characterization phase results, the research will help to develop adequate techniques for intervention (innovative tools and methods for the protection of underwater cultural heritage) with particular regard to cleaning and consolidating procedures to be carried out directly in situ.

Introduction(F. Enei, S. Nardi Combescure, G. Poccardi) Au cours du mois de septembre 2016, les recherches de terrain entreprises l’annee precedente ont ete poursuivies sur la colline du « Casale Alibrandi » (zone D) qui correspond au cœur de la colonie de Castrum Novum. Trois nouveaux sondages ont ete ouverts : le sondage IV a permis de degager une partie importante des remparts du IIIe siecle av. J. -C. ; le sondage V a interesse des edifices relatifs a l’epoque de fondation de la colonie ;...

The organic residues in the form of black layer spots inside amphoras found on the sites of the former ancient ports of Pyrgi and Castrum Novum on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea were investigated using GC–MS and HPLC with fluorimetric detection. According to our hypothesis, the residues could be from waterproofing materials from pine trees, which ensured that amphoras could be used for transportation and the storage of liquids. Samples of the residues were removed, extracted with hexane and separated into three parts. The first part served directly for GC–MS analysis of hydrocarbons. The second part after the evaporation of hexane and silylation of the residue with MSTFA was used for the analysis of fatty and resin acids. Finally, the third part after evaporation of hexane and dilution of the residue with methanol was used for HPLC analysis of pinosylvin mono methyl ether and confirmation of retene presence using a fluorimetric detector. 18-Norabieta-8,11,13-triene, 19-norabieta-8,11,13-triene and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroretene were found in the hexane extract, which are intermediates from the tar/pitch production process. The most abundant peak in the chromatogram of the hexane extract was dehydroabietic acid and retene. The latter is considered to be a marker for pine pitch. The most abundant compound in the derivatized hexane extract was also dehydroabietic acid, which occurs only as a minor component in fresh resins. This molecule is formed during the oxidative dehydrogenation of abietic acid, which predominates in original resins. Pinosylvin mono methyl ether was found in the methanolic extract using HPLC with fluorimetric detection and, to the best of our knowledge, it is the first finding of this substance in archaeological samples. Together with the abovementioned compounds, it supports the hypothesis of the resin's origin from trees of the Pinaceae family.

The present research utilizes archaeology and physical anthropology to reconstruct the demography, occupational stress markers and health conditions of individuals that lived during the medieval era in Santa Severa (Rome, Italy). The cemetery recovered during the restoration of the Castle of Santa Severa dates back to 1232 +/- 40 BP (680-890 cal.)-1004 +/- 30 BP (970-1060 cal.), as regards Casa del Nostromo, and to 883 +/- 40 BP (1040-1220 cal.)-531 +/- 35 BP (1380-1450 cal.) for Piazza della Rocca, according to C-14 analyses on four bone samples corresponding to the most superior and inferior stratigraphic levels. This range of dates ascribes the burials to the transition period between the Early and Late medieval era. The goal of the present research was to analyze one of the largest Italian medieval communities using a morphological approach to reconstruct its osteobiography. The complex comprised a total of 455 individuals: 118 juveniles and 256 adults (M:F = 1.4). All age classes were represented, meaning that, even if the area were not completely excavated, the analyzed series could be considered representative of the population from which it comes. The sample exhibited a high degree of biomechanical stress related to daily tasks, mainly affecting the upper limbs and involving both the shoulder and the pelvic girdle. Several pathologies were detected; the most common appeared to be degenerative and infectious diseases, though some cases of congenital disorders could also be observed. Regarding the dental pathology, low frequencies of caries, abscesses and antemortem tooth loss were detected in spite of a high prevalence of dental calculus. These results seem to suggest that subsistence was based on both agriculture and farming.

Zona A, settore 1 : il balneum de « le Guardiole ». Lo scavo(Sara Nardi-Combescure e David Vattier) Con il toponimo « le Guardiole » si distingue un’area, situata in corrispondenza del km 64, 4 della via Aurelia, a circa 200 m in direzione nord dell’area del « casale Alibrandi », dove e stato localizzato l’abitato di Castrum Novum (fig. 1). Fig. 1 - Castrum Novum. L’area de « Le Guardiole », prima dello sviluppo urbanistico degli anni 1960 e 1970. Da Bianchi – Giacomelli, p. 77. Stando a G. ...

DNA barcode technique has only recently been applied to archaeobotanical studies. In fact, in association with morphological, scanning electron and optical microscopic analyses, these specific methods allow researcher to scientifically classify antique flora samples. Therefore, this project wants to improve, to encourage and spread further use of this protocol and to highlight the potentialities of the molecular biology and microscopy related to botanical fossils. In conclusion, ancient Olea europaea L. and Crataegus monogyna Jacq. seeds, a Pinus sp. pollen cone, a Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl. acorn, animal fibers and gymnosperm woody fragments, found in a 1st Century BC sunken Dressel 1B amphora, have clearly been identified, in order to enhance knowledge about Central Italy past human activity and environment. This research has also demonstrated the applicability of this scientific approach on specimens derived from underwater archaeological site.

Soprintendenza archeologica per i Beni Archeologici dell'Etruria meridionale et Museo civico di Santa Marinella (éd.) 1 La mission a été créée à l'automne 2009 par une équipe pluri-universitaire et francoitalienne 1 dans le but d'étudier le site de Castrum Novum, colonie romaine maritime, dont la date de fondation remonte à la première moitié du III e siècle av.J.-C. 2 .La colonie était située sur

La mission a ete creee a l’automne 2009 par une equipe pluri-universitaire et franco-italienne dans le but d’etudier le site de Castrum Novum, colonie romaine maritime, dont la date de fondation remonte a la premiere moitie du IIIe siecle av. J.-C.. La colonie etait situee sur le territoire de l’ancienne cite etrusque de Caere (Cerveteri), a un emplacement qui correspond a l’actuelle localite de Santa Marinella (fig. 1). Fig. 1 - Castrum Novum. Localisation du site archeologique de Castrum No...

New data are presented for late Holocene relative sea level change for one of the older harbors of the Mediterranean Sea. Data are based on measurements of submerged archaeological remains, indicating past sea level and shoreline positions. The study has been carried out at Pyrgi (Santa Severa), an important Etruscan archaeological site located in central Italy, 52 km north of Rome. Underwater geomorphological features (a large shore platform) and archaeological remains (a Roman dock, two fishtanks, and wells of Etruscan age) connected to relative sea level and to the shoreline during the last 7 millennia have been measured and compared with current glacio-hydro-isostatic theoretical models in order to reconstruct the long-term shoreline evolution and to evaluate coastal tectonic vertical movements, so far derived for this area only from Last Interglacial (125 ka) sea level markers. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.