It is my duty to give news of the one-day study conference in Rome which involved me and many scholars in Italy and abroad on the topic of rediscovered amphitheatres.
During the day of September 20, 2024 the Colosseum archaeological park curated by Alfonsina Russo and Federica Rinaldi promoted and organized an important study conference in the Curia Iulia which had the theme of amphitheaters at the center of attention found.
Three case studies were presented regarding the Colosseum in Rome, the amphitheater which wasn’t there of Volterra and the arena of Fulginia (Foligno).
The day was a significant moment of scientific dissemination and public archeology due to the involvement of other institutes of the Ministry of Culture as well as sector associations: together with PArCo, the ABAP Superintendency of Pisa and Livorno, that of Umbria and the Association of Friends of the Abbey of Sassovivo (Foligno) presented the results of the excavations in the three arenas within a study and research path united by the principles of protection and valorization.
Del Colosseum the results of the excavation (2022-2024) of the southern front of the Amphitheatre, financed with CIPE funds as part of the Metro Line C works. The investigations made it possible to define the stratigraphic sequence and its division into 8 periods, from arrangements of the square with cobblestone paving dating back to the Jubilee of 2000 up to the foundation of the Vespasian age, confirmed by the brick stamps on the bipedals of the hydraulic system of the radial water flow channels. The archaeological excavation reached the surface of the building’s foundation, exposed for the first time for more than 1000 m2, documenting the imprints of the travertine blocks of the flooring, 90 cm high, the traces of the pillars and the construction system of the Amphitheatre. The finds discovered are absolutely extraordinary, including marble busts of statues, coins and a perfectly preserved gold ring and their technique and style date back to the 6th-7th century AD. Alongside the excavation and architectural data, an in-depth analysis has been proposed on the methods of consolidation and maintenance of the surfaces and in particular of the bedding mortar of the paving blocks thanks to the experiments carried out with the University of L’Aquila.
From Volterra the excavation of the amphitheater was presented, directed by the ABAP Superintendence of Pisa and Livorno and still in progress. The amphitheater was discovered in 2015 during the activities of preventive archaeology on the occasion of the restoration of the Pinzano-Docciola botro. The amphitheatre, unknown to ancient sources, dates back to the 1st century AD and its dimensions (64 meters for the minor axis and 82 meters for the major axis) rightfully place it in the wider panorama of amphitheaters of the early imperial age . Precisely the ongoing investigations, which will lead to the completion of the research and its valorisation in agreement with the municipality of Volterra, thanks to the funds coming from the 2021-2023 programming pursuant to Law 190/2014 and the funds of the “Major Heritage Projects” Strategic Plan Cultural” (DM 14 February 2022, rep. n. 60 – Programming of additional resources for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023), allow us to better understand not only the dynamics and construction techniques, but are also defining with greater precision the allocation of the first plant , which can now be dated to the Flavian period.
From Foligno the archival and topographic research preparatory to the excavation campaigns carried out under the concession regime authorized with Mic DgABAP resolution n. 1258 of 09.10.2023: dealership is the Association of Friends of the Abbey of Sassovivo which, thanks to a network of public-private collaborations and the support of scientific bodies and institutions for geognostic and thermographic investigations, is conducting the excavation of the wall structures attributed to the amphitheater of municipium Of Fulginia in order to determine its dating and construction characteristics, as well as resolve the important critical issue of the location of the first Roman settlement in the city.
The day ended with the presentation of the volume edited by Alfonsina Russo and Federica Rinaldi Uri vinciri verberari ferroque necari. Studies and research on the world of gladiators (ed. Gangemi) by the Prof. Thomas Hufschmidt (University of Basel) which illustrated the miscellany of studies resulting from the cycle of conferences held between October 2023 and January 2024 as part of the permanent exhibition set up in the hypogea of the Colosseum.
The event was streamed on the Facebook and YouTube page of the Colosseum Archaeological Park and the entire day of studies is available at this link: https://bit.ly/anfiteatriritrovati24
Carlo Franza