Newsletter Archeologia CISA | Università Degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale"

Editor in chief Bruno Genito Newsletter Archeologia (CISA) is published in order to give some in... more Editor in chief
Bruno Genito

Newsletter Archeologia (CISA) is published in order to give some information about main results of the research activities carried out by the Archaeological Missions from Africa (Libya, Egypt, Ethiopia) to Arabia (Yemen, Saudi Arabia), from Mediterranean Sea(Greece, Italy, Campania, Molise, Puglia) to China (Henan, Xinijang) through to Asia (Iran, Uzbekistan).The papers include aspects on archaeology (survey and excavation), palaeo-ethnobotany, palinology, archaeozoology, geology, geomorphology, geoarchaeology, ethnoarchaeology, ethnohistory as well as mapping, GIS and remote sensing analyses. The aim is to give a brief synthesis of the problems and results until now known and achieved.

Typesetting and Layout

Rosario Valentini

ISSN 2036-6353
Napoli 2009

Newsletter Archeologia CISA - Ricerche e Studi, Feb 1, 2018

Il tema della mia relazione, concordato con il collega Fabrizio Pesando 1 , prende spunto dall'is... more Il tema della mia relazione, concordato con il collega Fabrizio Pesando 1 , prende spunto dall'iscrizione di Cupra, che ricorda un atto di munificenza pubblica di Adriano, discusso in dettaglio in questo incontro da altri relatori, intende inquadrare il contesto generale dello specifico intervento cuprense, illustrando con i dati oggi disponibili l'attività evergetica dell'imperatore che a sue spese ha voluto il restauro o talvolta la costruzione ex novo di opere pubbliche in diverse città dell'Italia romana.

Newsletter Archeologia CISA - Ricerche e studi, Feb 1, 2018

Queste note, di fatto una relazione preliminare sull'attività svolta da una piccola équipe de l'O... more Queste note, di fatto una relazione preliminare sull'attività svolta da una piccola équipe de l'Orientale di Napoli nei territori pertinenti ai Comuni di Grottammare e Cupra Marittima, sono state presentate nel corso di una giornata di studio dedicata all'attività edilizia dell'imperatore Adriano nel Piceno meridionale, ricordandone l'ascesa al trono, avvenuta nell'estate del 117 1 . La ricorrenza dei 1900 dalla proclamazione a imperatore, celebrata quest'anno da una serie di incontri sia in Spagna che in Grecia 2 , è stata l'occasione per ricostruire le modalità di un intervento edilizio di particolare importanza menzionato in una celebre iscrizione ( ) conservata all'interno della Chiesa di San Martino a Grottammare (AP) (CIL 09, 05294; ILS 0313; EDR 093988); in occasione del suo "viaggio in Italia", Adriano finanziò infatti con i propri averi (pecunia sua) il rifacimento del vetusto tempio di Cupra, che una antica tradizione voleva fondato dai Tirreni in età arcaica (Str., 5,4,4), sottolineando in tal modo il suo forte attaccamento ai sacra del territorio di origine della propria gens, originaria di Hatria (SHA, Hadr., 1). L'interesse de L'Orientale nello studio del territorio piceno, iniziato nel 2016 con una ricognizione dell'ager Cuprensis, è aumentato nei mesi successivi il sisma del 24 agosto, quando un piccolo gruppo del Centro Interdipartimentale di Servizi di Archeologia, coordinato dallo scrivente e dal Direttore Tecnico Andrea D'Andrea, ha operato nei Comuni di Grottammare e Cupra Marittima al fine di monitorare lo stato di conservazione di alcuni edifici d'età romana 3 .

Newsletter Archeologia CISA - Ricerche e studi, Feb 1, 2018

Il lavoro filologico condotto su alcuni mattoni di periodo medio-elamita provenienti dal sito arc... more Il lavoro filologico condotto su alcuni mattoni di periodo medio-elamita provenienti dal sito archeologico di Chogha Zanbil (Iran) e recanti iscrizioni cuneiformi in lingua elamica ha comportato la messa a punto di una procedura per la riproduzione fotografica del materiale epigrafico. Durante la ricerca, condotta per la realizzazione dell'elaborato di tesi magistrale, sono emerse infatti diverse problematiche connesse alla lettura e successiva interpretazione di iscrizioni redatte nel sistema di scrittura cuneiforme attraverso l'analisi e lo studio di fotografie bidimensionali 1 . La realizzazione di fotografie di alta qualità è funzionale anche alla creazione di disegni vettoriali e ricostruzioni 3D, ambiti per i quali disporre di una documentazione accurata e realizzata con criteri omogenei è fondamentale.

Newsletter Archeologia CISA - Ricerche e studi, Feb 1, 2018

L’archeologia da sempre genera informazioni, raccoglie record che diventano migliaia di schede su... more L’archeologia da sempre genera informazioni, raccoglie record che diventano migliaia di schede su fogli di carta, la cui compilazione, oltre a essere lunga e faticosa, è soggetta ad un'elevata percentuale di disomogeneità e di errore. Fronteggiare un simile patrimonio informativo è un compito arduo, se non impossibile, soprattutto quando queste informazioni devono essere processate e interpretate velocemente. Al contrario, il computer snellisce questa difficile attività consentendo di gestire, in maniera molto più efficace e versatile l’univocità ed irripetibilità del record archeologico, rendendo possibile l'implementazione di controlli di qualità rigidi in fase di immissione del dato e agevolando l'esecuzione di una vasta gamma di analisi (statistiche, spaziali, logiche, etc.) in fase di interpretazione.

The article re-examines an interesting case study of the physical and chronological relationship ... more The article re-examines an interesting case study of the physical and chronological relationship between a pre-Buddhist graveyard and a Buddhist sacred area (Saidu Sharif I, Swat, Pakistan) in the light of new archaeological investigations and radiometric analyses. The specific case is also reappraised against the broader background of Swat cultural history and, in particular, the paradigms of social and economic changes introduced by Buddhism.

It is never easy to handle theoretical and methodological issues arising from a particular scien... more It is never easy to handle theoretical and methodological issues arising from a particular scientific topic in a kind of review of studies, which is, in its way, what is being presented here. Studies of the archaeology of the Sasanian period have been the subject of numerous acute and critical comments by distinguished scholars in the past, including Huff (1986, 302-308) and more recently as well (1998-2011). Those issues which have been handled, too, have clearly always somewhat suffered from a complex of inferiority to other periods of the history of ancient Iran which are considered by far, the most formative and important: the Achaemenid and the Islamic eras.

More and more foreigners, who were usually called as Hu people by Chinese, started to migrate alo... more More and more foreigners, who were usually called as Hu people by Chinese, started to migrate along the Silk Road and eventually live in Central Plain area after the 2nd century BC. The exotic culture coming with Hu people had continuous influences towards ancient Chinese society, relative historical discussion has always been the hotspot in the study of Chinese early medieval history.

Gli scavi in estensione dell’Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”, intrapresi a partire... more Gli scavi in estensione dell’Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”, intrapresi a partire dal 2007 a Cuma si sono concentrati sul quartiere abitativo greco-romano compreso tra le Terme del Foro e le mura settentrionali

The Joint Uzbek-Italian archaeological activity of Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sci... more The Joint Uzbek-Italian archaeological activity of Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan - IAASU and Università degli Studi di Napoli - UNO, in Samarkand region, was aimed at detecting and investigating possible Achaemenid and post-Achaemenid archaeological horizons in the area.

The 2015 archaeological campaign at Dūmat al-Jandal took place between 15th October - 16th Novemb... more The 2015 archaeological campaign at Dūmat al-Jandal took place between 15th October - 16th November 2015. The activities carried out by the Italian team at Dūmat al-Jandal focused on the main research topics: extensive excavation in the historical core of the oasis, activated since 2009, and prehistoric survey devoted to the paleoenvironment for the detection of Neolithic and Bronze Age sites in the al-Jawl region.

Editor in chief Bruno Genito Newsletter Archeologia (CISA) is published in order to give some in... more Editor in chief
Bruno Genito

Typesetting and Layout

Rosario Valentini

ISSN 2036-6353
Napoli 2009

Newsletter Archeologia CISA - Ricerche e Studi, Feb 1, 2018

Newsletter Archeologia CISA - Ricerche e studi, Feb 1, 2018

The 2015 activities were devoted to the implementation of what has been achieved during 2014 camp... more The 2015 activities were devoted to the implementation of what has been achieved during 2014 campaign, after which it was clear that the BMH2 village is strictly related to a peculiar geomorphological environment: the wadis close to the site provide both water and agricultural areas to be exploited in addition to the resources coming from the sea.

The research activities conducted in the 2015 field season of the Italian Archaeological Expediti... more The research activities conducted in the 2015 field season of the Italian Archaeological Expedition to the Eastern Sudan of the University of Naples “L’Orientale” consisted of the continuation of the investigations at site K 1 (Mahal Teglinos), one of the major archaeological sites of Eastern Sudan already investigated by the archaeological expedition led by Rodolfo Fattovich from 1980 to 1995, and of the beginning of excavations at sites UA 50 and JAG 1

Nell’ambito delle ricerche promosse dal Dipartimento Asia Africa Mediterraneo dell’Università deg... more Nell’ambito delle ricerche promosse dal Dipartimento Asia Africa Mediterraneo dell’Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”, a partire dal 2013 si sono impostate le linee-guida per una nuova iniziativa di studio, finalizzata alla documentazione archeologica delle strutture sommerse e semi-sommerse situate in stretta prossimità della linea di costa, con particolare attenzione alle ville marittime di età romana disseminate lungo il litorale tirrenico.

In November/December 2014 the Italian Archaeological Expedition of the Università degli Studi di ... more In November/December 2014 the Italian Archaeological Expedition of the Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale” (UNO), Napoli, Italy, co-directed by Rodolfo Fattovich, Andrea Manzo and Luisa Sernicola, conducted the twentieth field season of investigations in the region of Aksum, Tigray, northern Ethiopia, the fifth at the site of Seglamen.

Il convegno Paesaggi sommersi -ambiente, storia, archeologia, governance, organizzato dall' Unive... more Il convegno Paesaggi sommersi -ambiente, storia, archeologia, governance, organizzato dall' Università degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale" presso i locali della Scuola per l'Alta Formazione di Terra Murata a Procida, ha inteso sottolineare la stretta interrelazione esistente fra le differenti discipline ed aree di ricerca che, apparentemente distanti, si incontrano e si legano sullo scenario del mondo marittimo, costiero e subacqueo, accogliendo i contributi di docenti e ricercatori dell'Ateneo, a vario titolo impegnati in lavori e studi legati al mare, insieme con referenti di Istituzioni, strutture e università italiane ed estere con cui da tempo collaborano.

Il diritto internazionale del mare disciplina i rapporti tra Stati in ambito marittimo. Per molti... more Il diritto internazionale del mare disciplina i rapporti tra Stati in ambito marittimo. Per molti secoli questa branca del diritto internazionale è stata caratterizzata da un regime di libertà e, quindi, dall'assenza di regole. Ciò era evidentemente funzionale agli interessi commerciali e strategici delle grandi Potenze marittime europee, soprattutto all'epoca della colonizzazione dei territori d'oltremare. Solo a partire dalla seconda metà del diciannovesimo secolo cominciò a manifestarsi il fenomeno, che dominerà il secolo successivo e che può dirsi tuttora operante, della progressiva estensione della giurisdizione dello Stato costiero sul mare. Ed è proprio su impulso degli Stati costieri che furono promosse tre principali conferenze volte a codificare le consuetudini esistenti in tema di diritto internazionale del mare. Le codificazioni più importanti furono quella del 1958 e del 1982, mentre quella intermedia del 1960 che si proponeva di determinare l'estensione del mare territoriale, non raggiunse il suo obiettivo. Dopo ben undici sessioni, il 10 dicembre 1982, fu adottata a Montego Bay (Giamaica) la Convenzione delle Nazioni Unite sul diritto del mare (UNCLOS), un testo ambizioso che disciplina la quasi totalità delle questioni giuridiche relative agli spazi marini. Il 16 novembre 1994, dodici mesi dopo il deposito del sessantesimo strumento di ratifica, l'UNCLOS è entrata in vigore. Allo stato, il suo testo risulta ratificato da centosessantasette Stati e dalla stessa Unione Europea. Ancora manca la firma degli Stati Uniti, mentre la ratifica dell'Italia è avvenuta con la L. 2.12.19942.12. , n. 689 (Treves 2011 Cataldi 2006, 3583). Definita giustamente la "Costituzione degli Oceani", tuttavia, a più di trent'anni dalla sua adozione e a più di venti dalla sua entrata in vigore, l'UNCLOS si mostra talvolta inadeguata rispetto alle nuove esigenze emerse nella prassi internazionale. Non si può pertanto prescindere dal confronto costante con i dati offerti dall'analisi della prassi più recente.

Il punto di partenza e di ispirazione del presente contributo è la ben nota esortazione di Fernan... more Il punto di partenza e di ispirazione del presente contributo è la ben nota esortazione di Fernand Braudel a liberarsi della percezione del Mediterraneo propria dei nostri tempi e a cercare di rappresentarsi il mare nella «veste smisurata» con cui doveva apparire all'uomo dell'età moderna, del medioevo e, a maggior ragione, dell'antichità.

Rivolgendosi a Traiano nel Panegirico a lui dedicato, Plinio il Giovane pone in luce, fra i molti... more Rivolgendosi a Traiano nel Panegirico a lui dedicato, Plinio il Giovane pone in luce, fra i molti aspetti degni di elogio, l'amore del princeps per la natura e per l'esercizio fisico che in essa si espleta (Plinio, Panegirico, 81). Traiano figura, infatti, sia come appassionato della caccia alle fiere, praticata in solitudine sui monti e in lotta contro gli elementi naturali, sia come timoniere capace di mettersi in gioco alla guida delle navi in un mare anche periglioso.

È cosa nota che, con la costruzione delle ville marittime, si assiste alla prima, significativa m... more È cosa nota che, con la costruzione delle ville marittime, si assiste alla prima, significativa modificazione del paesaggio lungo le coste dell'Italia antica; facendo tesoro di esperienze architettoniche già elaborate in ambiente ellenistico, il costruito si adattò da allora alla conformazione naturale dei luoghi, giungendo talvolta ad alterarla profondamente. Non a caso, per sottolineare la diffusione quasi capillare di queste strutture agli albori dell'età imperiale, si cita frequentemente lo stupore di Strabone (Geografia, 5, 8, C 247) di fronte allo spettacolo offerto ai suoi tempi dal Golfo di Napoli, la cui costa era popolata di "centri abitati (pòleis), residenze (oikodomìai) e piantagioni (phytèiai) fra loro contigue, al punto da offrire la vista di una sola città". Al simbolico vertice di questa prevalenza della costruzione artificiale sul profilo marittimo naturale, possiamo collocare la testimonianza di Seneca (de Ira, 3, 21, 5) su un rabbioso intervento di Caligola, il quale fece demolire la splendida villa ercolanese in cui era stata relegata la madre, assicurandole in tal modo imperitura notorietà, poiché "coloro che vi navigavano davanti senza averla prima notata, ora si interrogavano sul motivo della sua distruzione". Oltre che per l'informazione, in sé preziosa, su un atto compiuto da un imperatore tanto letterariamente celebre quanto biograficamente poco noto, la testimonianza senecana ci offre uno squarcio su una delle possibili motivazioni che dovettero spingere l'élite romana a fare della villa marittima la residenza privilegiata per un laborioso otium, scegliendo per essa una collocazione quanto più possibile appropriata: accanto alla bellezza dei luoghi, alla dolcezza del clima e allo sfruttamento congiunto delle risorse del territorio agricolo e del mare, un elemento non secondario fu la garanzia di una visibilità e riconoscibilità pari a quelle offerte dalle domus urbane, per le quali il criterio di localizzazione rispondeva all'esigenza dell'habitare in oculis civitatis. Di tutte le possibili ragioni alla base della scelta di un determinato litorale o di una specifica posizione per la costruzione della propria residenza, questa è certo la più sfuggente; è possibile che in taluni casi abbiano rivestito un qualche ruolo la presenza di elementi naturali posti sotto la protezione del sacro, quali grotte e sorgenti (Strabone, Geografia, 5, 3, 6 C 233), o anche suggestioni originate da mitistoriche ricostruzioni familiari: ciò poté forse verificarsi per quelle gentes più o meno direttamente discendenti dalle familiae Troianae giunte sulle coste del Lazio al seguito di Enea o la cui ascesa poteva essere connessa a un luogo strettamente legato a Roma da vicende storiche o culturali. È questo probabilmente il caso di Cuma, la cui fama come sede di grandi ville si dovette soprattutto a Silla, il quale ne fece il suo buen retiro, consapevole che l'origine del suo cognomen era stato collegato -con una pseudo-etimologia elaborata in ambito familiare, se non addirittura da lui stesso -alla fama raggiunta dai Cornelii nella consultazione dei libri Sibillini, prefigurazione delle future fortune della gens (sul cognomen cfr. Macrobio I, 17, 27).

Com'è noto, l'attuale Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli, già delle Province di Nap... more Com'è noto, l'attuale Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli, già delle Province di Napoli e Caserta, poi di Napoli e Pompei, è da decenni impegnata in attività di tutela nel campo dell'archeologia subacquea. Al suo interno è operativo il Gruppo Archeologico Subacqueo, a seguito del conseguimento dell'abilitazione all'attività subacquea a fini archeologici da parte di alcuni dipendenti della Soprintendenza; essi parteciparono, negli anni '90 del secolo scorso, a un apposito corso di formazione ministeriale per operatori subacquei.

La presenza di aristocratiche ville di soggiorno è un dato quasi scontato quando si parla di Form... more La presenza di aristocratiche ville di soggiorno è un dato quasi scontato quando si parla di Formiae e del lungo tratto di costa che ricadeva sotto la sua giurisdizione, visto che -travalicando i moderni confini amministrativi -il suo ager giungeva a comprendere anche il territorio degli attuali centri di Gaeta, di Itri e di parte di quello di Sperlonga 1 .

La villa imperiale di Sperlonga è nota principalmente per il ritrovamento delle sculture legate a... more La villa imperiale di Sperlonga è nota principalmente per il ritrovamento delle sculture legate alle vicende di Ulisse 1 . L'interesse per tali opere, che hanno monopolizzato molto presto l'attenzione degli archeologi, ha portato a trascurare lo studio delle architetture, a cui sono dedicati ben pochi lavori, a partire dalle prime pagine del volume di Giulio Iacopi del 1963 (Iacopi 1963) fino ai saggi recenti di Sergio Sgalambro e, soprattutto, di Nicoletta Cassieri, intervenuta in varie occasioni su aspetti particolari o con lavori di sintesi sulla lunga vita del monumento .

Le testimonianze delle ville romane esistenti prima dell'eruzione del 79 d.C. nella zona di Porti... more Le testimonianze delle ville romane esistenti prima dell'eruzione del 79 d.C. nella zona di Portici, di Ercolano e di Torre del Greco con il loro allineamento parallelo alla costa contribuiscono a documentare il tracciato di una via litoranea, la via Herculea che, uscita da Napoli, attraversava il territorio dell'antica Ercolano, entrava quindi nell'abitato a monte del decumano massimo, costituendo il c.d. decumano superiore, per proseguire poi verso Torre del Greco ove, nelle sue adiacenze, sorgevano due imponenti ville marittime, quella in località Calastro e quella in contrada Sora (Scatozza 1985) .

Gli autori hanno deciso di utilizzare questa terminologia in quanto sulle sponde di quel tratto d... more Gli autori hanno deciso di utilizzare questa terminologia in quanto sulle sponde di quel tratto di mare abitano sia popolazioni di lingua persiana che di lingua araba. 1 Sulle ultime imbarcazioni tradizionali a vela nella regione si vedano ) e Howarth (1977. 2 Sull'uso delle imbarcazioni tradizionali nel Golfo si veda Agius (2002;.

Questo contributo a un convegno di studi dedicato ai "Paesaggi Sommersi. Ambiente, storia, archeo... more Questo contributo a un convegno di studi dedicato ai "Paesaggi Sommersi. Ambiente, storia, archeologia, governance" intende presentare una panoramica delle attività di ricerca svolte dall'Università degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale" nella penisola arabica. A partire dalla oltre trentennale attività sul campo nelle ricche aree archeologiche dello Yemen interno e costiero e del nord dell'Arabia Saudita, fino ai più recenti progetti svolti o in corso di sviluppo sulle coste settentrionali del Sultanato dell'Oman.

La campagna di scavo dell'anno 2014, presso l'abitato greco-romano di Cuma (Na), ha interessato e... more La campagna di scavo dell'anno 2014, presso l'abitato greco-romano di Cuma (Na), ha interessato esclusivamente l'isolato già parzialmente messo in luce e delimitato ad est da una plateia nord-sud e a sud e a nord da due stenopoi est-ovest. Sono stati effettuati sia alcuni saggi di verifica della sequenza stratigrafica all'interno dell'area già scavata in precedenza sia un allargamento, sul lato ovest, dell'area precedentemente oggetto di intervento, senza tuttavia raggiungere i limiti occidentali dell'isolato. I lavori sono stati condotti secondo la consueta formula dello scavo-scuola e hanno visto la partecipazione di circa 120 studenti dell'Università L'Orientale e di altre università italiane e straniere.

Nel mese di luglio 2014 si è svolta una breve campagna di scavo 1 presso la cinta fortificata ind... more Nel mese di luglio 2014 si è svolta una breve campagna di scavo 1 presso la cinta fortificata individuata nell'area del Comune di San Demetrio ne' Vestini (AQ), in località Calvantoni, durante l'attività di ricognizione condotta nel 2013 nel territorio dei comuni di Fossa, Sant'Eusanio Forconese e San Demetrio (Giglio, Pesando 2014).

During the Kojtepa’s excavation (season 2013), the documentation for the archaeological drawings ... more During the Kojtepa’s excavation (season 2013), the documentation for the archaeological drawings has been realized following a methodological approach different with respect to the traditional. Having at disposal only one month for the excavation, one has proceeded to identify the areas of excavation by a 3D techniques based on the algorithm smf (structure from motion) and image-based. This methodological approach may, in fact, capture with a camera, images that will be processed in the laboratory and from which one will derive high-resolution orthophotos, that will be, in time, exploited in order to derive the excavation plans. Because of the very fast acquisition of images and the ability to process the data at the end of excavation, the field archaeological research on the investigated areas has not been interrupted by the realization of the drawings with the traditional manual survey. With this new approach one is able to devote more time to the archaeological excavation; the orthophotos have been produced for the reconstruction of maps, sections and representations of voxels (volumetric picture element). In this article the procedures performed will be explained and shown.

The 2013 campaign has taken over the investigation in the areas already previously detected, focu... more The 2013 campaign has taken over the investigation in the areas already previously detected, focusing on the block delimited thanks to the identification of two new routes in the 2012 campaign. Excavations, conducted by the formula of the site-school, has been organized in order to achieve both trenches of stratigraphic verifications, inside spaces highlighted in previous years, and the enlargement of the investigation, especially in the western sector of the block. On the North and South the limits of the block have been better defined, investigating, up to the level of the paved floor, the southern route-axis and performing a test of stratigraphic deepening in the northern route- axis, which was not provided - with the exception of the intersection with the north-south axis - with a floor paved. The survey allowed us to verify the entire sequence of the floors of the road axis, which seem to live since the Archaic period. Also in the southern sector of the block the limits of the peristyle of the house of the late Republican period have been brought to light; this comes with a porch on three sides and a back wall, the limit of the block, with the altar. It was also carried out an in-depth trench on a place setting at the southeast corner, from which it is clear the entire sequence, showing an occupation since the Archaic period, with the construction of the first building in blocks of tuff at least in the Vth century B.C.

In the framework of the University “Orientale” research project “The Kerameikos necropolis revisi... more In the framework of the University “Orientale” research project “The Kerameikos necropolis revisited” directed by Prof. A. M. D’Onofrio and to which the author has contributed (2011-2013), it is here proposed a reexamination of the early phases of the Kerameikos cemetery of Athens, the cornerstone of the chronology of the so-called Dark Age (c. 1100-700 B.C.) in Attica, located between the collapse of the Mycenaean palaces and the formation of the polis. The Sub-Mycenaean and Proto-Geometric (c. 1080-900 B.C.) graves of this necropolis have been excavated and published by W. Kraiker and K. Kübler in the first half of the last century. Despite the absence of the micro-stratigraphical data of the cemetery, due to the remoteness in time of the archaeological excavations, and thanks to the careful publication of the available data, it is possible to submit the well-known archaeological record to further analysis, looking for a methodological approach to test the current relative sequence of the burials. The result will be presented in the frame of the wider literature on the argument, which developed conspicuously from the 1980s on.

Since January 2010 an Italian Archaeological Mission began new investigations in the area of the ... more Since January 2010 an Italian Archaeological Mission began new investigations in the area of the Sun Temple of Niuserra at Abu Ghurab, about 30 km south of Cairo, Egypt. At more than one hundred years on from the discovery of the temple by the German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt in 1898, the study of this particular type of monuments of the Egyptian Old Kingdom has not yet received a complete re-examination. The ongoing investigations, granted by l’Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale” di Napoli and the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, have so far pointed out many aspects of the temple which certainly deserve a particular attention, mainly in terms of some inaccuracies in the three-dimensional reconstruction of the temple - mainly the obelisk - suggested by Borchardt and generally accepted by scholars. For this reason the primary aim of the research was a complete re-evaluation of the archaeological data still available on the site, as well as an attempt to establish a new, revised plan of the temple. To reach this goal the obelisk was completely surveyed by means of three-dimensional laser scanner. An accurate photographic campaign was also performed in order to create the textures needed for a photorealistic three-dimensional model. From the final 3D model some graphical information were extracted to produce plans and sections to document the state of preservation of the monument and, furthermore, to suggest a possible reconstruction of the original shape of the temple.

Adulis was the most important port for trade in the Horn of Africa during antiquity. It was the p... more Adulis was the most important port for trade in the Horn of Africa during antiquity. It was the port of the urban settlements of the Eritrean and Ethiopian highlands and of the coastal and island people. As a port with a long time life, Adulis has been the gateway for people, ideas, goods and powers that had a major impact on the history of the Eritrean and Ethiopian highlands. The project of excavation at Adulis started in 2011, promoted by the Eritrean Government, Gruppo Piccini, and CeRDO, it is conducted in collaboration with scholars and archaeologists from the Northern Red Sea Regional Museum, the National Museum of Eritrea, the Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”, the Università Cattolica of Milan and the Politecnico of Milan. The main focus of the Adulis Project is the consolidation and preservation of the site so as the creation of an archaeological park and the dissemination of the project results to a wider public. In accordance with this main scope, since the beginning of the project, grants and time has also been allocated for stratigraphic excavations and for the study of the cultural history of the ancient port. Archaeological research have had as a goal, during the 2014 field season, to define the chronology of the town, to better understand the relation among the town, the river and the sea and to investigate the dynamics of interconnectivity among the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean through material finds.

The Kerameikos cemetery is the most renown burial site of the long term, multi-focal settlement o... more The Kerameikos cemetery is the most renown burial site of the long term, multi-focal settlement of Athens. Its continuous use can be traced back to the final phases of the Late Bronze Age (c. 1100 BC), but it is at the Transition to the Early Iron Age (c. 1050 BC) that the evidence becomes most relevant and it constitutes the backbone of the chronological and cultural sequence of Athens, which on turn is considered as the model for a number of other Hellenic sites. A research, financed by L’Orientale and directed by the author (2011-2013), was conducted upon the Kerameikos cemetery; in this paper a well-known series of burials with weapons, mostly excavated by K. Kübler in the 30s and 40s and edited in the volumes of the Kerameikos, Ergebnisse der Ausgrabungen will be dealt with by the author. Thanks to the kind permit of the German Institute and of the Third Ephoria for Classical and Prehistoric Antiquities of Athens, it has been possible to study the grave goods of the twenty so-called warriors graves, dated from the Transitional to the Middle Geometric periods (c. 1050-800 BC), having direct access to the finds, kept in the Museum of Kerameikos, mostly in the Museum stores. The results of the mission (Athens 2011 and 2012) and of the subsequent researches are summed up in the paper.

The Joint Iranian-Italian archaeological activity continued in Bīšāpūr (Fārs Region) with a secon... more The Joint Iranian-Italian archaeological activity continued in Bīšāpūr (Fārs Region) with a second season in November 2013. The work has been possible thanks to the collaboration between RC-ICHHTO, ICAR of ICHHTO, the local base of the same institutions, from Italian side MFA and UNO. The activities of this year were mainly devoted to the following points: 1.controlling and revising GPS points of the 17 areas identified last year throughout the support of the Autocad map (Autumn 1386/2007-2008) delivered to the Italians in 2011, by M.K. Mahmoudi, Battul Khosravi, G. Maresca and E. Cocca; 2. identifying new archaeological evidences (from area 18 to area 32), especially to North-East of the city, throughout the support of the Autocad map, by M.K. Mahmoudi, Battul Khosravi, G. Maresca and E. Cocca; 3. surveying the external side of Bīšāpūr city, to West, along the irregular wavy outline of the city, following for centuries the massive and impetuous flow of the Šāpūr river, in order to detect and possibly to make a macroscopic analysis on the very high geological deposit where the city is located, including eventual tectonic fractures or karstic or qanat galleries, by M.K. Mahmoudi, Battul Khosravi, B. Genito, G. Maresca; 4. processing the Autocad data and extracting information for 3D model to the realization of a DTM (Digital Terrain Model) and subdivision of the vector levels, by E. Cocca; 5. 3D rendering of the Čāhār-Tāq, the Columns area, the Madrasa, the main monumental area (Anahita Fire Temple, mosaic Court, big cruciform Hall, three-iwan Hall open to south-east) and the six rock-reliefs on the right and on the left banks of Šāhpūr river, by E. Cocca.

Kojtepa, is located at less than 50 km to South-West from Samarkand and very close to the outskir... more Kojtepa, is located at less than 50 km to South-West from Samarkand and very close to the outskirts of the Chandyr village. The fifth season of excavation amongst the other, had the following main objectives, all aiming at working and investigating: 1. in Trench no 5 in order to find the continuation of the architectural network already evidenced, a possible earlier architecture and material culture; 2. in the area between the main tepe and the north-eastern corner of the encircling wall, named Trench no 9, with different successive extensions, Trench no 9.5 and Trench no. 9.6; 3.ina new trench, named no 11, contiguous to Trench no 5; 4. in a new trench, named no 10 to east of Trench no 6 on the southern encircling wall of the tepe; 5. as much as dating material culture possible, in order to obtain a more detailed typological and possibly chronological stratigraphic differentiation; 6. a 3D reconstruction of the whole site.

The ca. 500,000 ceramic fragments collected in the multi-stratified urban site-area of the Masjed... more The ca. 500,000 ceramic fragments collected in the multi-stratified urban site-area of the Masjed-i-Jum’a in Isfahan (Central-Iran) represent a very consistent statistical basis to focus a filing system able not to analytically disperse the information, and to offer reading keys to assemble the single morphological units within the different provenance from the excavations areas and the different vertical layers of the sequence. It was, therefore, decided to classify the entire corpus by fabrics, the common denominator allowing one in a second step to study deeper the morphological types in connection with their stratigraphic distribution, considering further the functional and cultural aspects of the different ceramic productions existing in the area of the Mosque and/or within the city in the different chronological phases. After the macroscopic observations, archeo-metrical analysis (Optical microscopy on thin section, X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) followed, revealing that the fabrics differ from one another basically for the chemical composition of the minerals and the firing temperature, representatives of different functional categories as well as organization and structure of the ateliers which produced such different pottery qualities.

Following a preliminary survey conducted by Dr. Romolo Loreto (University of Naples “L’Orientale”... more Following a preliminary survey conducted by Dr. Romolo Loreto (University of Naples “L’Orientale”), Prof. Maurizio Tosi (Ministry of National Heritage & Culture of the Sultanate of Oman), Prof. Gösta Hoffmann (GUTech Oman) and Mr. Abdel Rahim al-Maimani (professional photographer), on June 1st - 5th 2013, a scatter of archaeological sites has been identified at Seeb probably related to the Medieval Dimma. The sites have been first detected by Prof. Gösta Hoffmann, as a result of survey work for training of GUTech Oman students of earth sciences. Thus, a joint project sponsored by the Ministry of National Heritage & Culture of the Sultanate of Oman under the patronage of the University of Naples “L’Orientale” was born. Aim of the project is to identified, within the modern city, evidence of the medieval harbor of Dimma. Considering the pottery evidence it seems clear that the ancient Dimma was a natural port of trade between the main harbors along the Persian Gulf, from Iraq to Iran and from Oman to India, both during Early Islamic eras and Portoguese colonial era.

The article will outline the fieldwork conducted in November-December 2013 by the Italian Archaeo... more The article will outline the fieldwork conducted in November-December 2013 by the Italian Archaeological Expedition to the eastern Sudan of the Università degli Studi di Napoli “L'Orientale”. The excavations at the sites K1 and UA53 and the laboratory studies conducted in the storerooms of the expedition will be described. The new information obtained on the economy of the Butana Group (4th-early 3rd mill. BC), Gash Group (mid-3rd-early 2nd mill. BC), and Jebel Mokram Group (early 2nd-early 1st mill. BC) as well as on the involvement of Eastern Sudan in a broad network of contacts with the other regions of northeastern Africa will be discussed in the conclusions.

In 2013, the research on Aveia, already illustrated in the previous issue no 4 of the Newsletter,... more In 2013, the research on Aveia, already illustrated in the previous issue no 4 of the Newsletter, continued with a wide-ranging reconnaissance in the area surrounding the Roman city, which coincides with that of the municipalities of Fossa, S. Eusanio Forconese, Ocker Hill, St. Demetrius Nè Vestini. In the territory of the municipality of St. Eusanio were topographically positioned and filed two buildings of worship already known from reports made by local scholars. In the town of Ocre walls of polygonal manner II with a circle fortified and the remains of a polygonal substructure, heavily altered in the modern age were identified. The most important finding, on which in particular this communication will focus, took place in the municipality of Saint Demetrius Nè Vestini. Almost in the center of the modern country, it was already known a wall - or a substructure - reported by some recent synthesis to the base of a shrine or to the fortification of a settlement. The recognition and the subsequent cleaning of the building has allowed us to document two large sections - total length of about 200 meters - of a boundary polygon in IV manner in which they were recognized the remains of a door, a large part of the rampart walk and a postern. The uniqueness of the structure, devoid of comparisons in the entire territory characterized by simple fortifications on the high places made in a much more elementary techniques, raises new questions about the structuring of the Vestino territory towards the end of the Roman conquest.

The first campaigns of the Italian-Egyptian Project at Manqabad were very short due to the genera... more The first campaigns of the Italian-Egyptian Project at Manqabad were very short due to the general situation of the country, but they allowed the general condition of the structures to be verified and the first urgent actions to be planned. During two short surveys, the mission was able to identify most of the structures already brought to light and recorded by previous investigations. Because a unique map was made of the site by an Egyptian colleague without any technical instruments, all the structures and the archaeological area need an update topographical survey and drawings. The short unpublished reports of earlier excavations (summarized to us by the colleagues of the local inspectorate) and several photos also informed us about the large amount of findings coming from the site, among which it is worth mentioning Coptic funerary stelae, different types of whole jars, some amphorae, and some decorated vases. These artifacts are mostly kept in the storehouse in el-Ashmunein and Asyut. A large deal of coins from the Roman, Byzantine and Islamic periods was also discovered. During the third campaign, the members of the archaeological mission also started the study of some of these artifacts.

The report presents the results of the study of the ceramic coming from the fourth season of exca... more The report presents the results of the study of the ceramic coming from the fourth season of excavation (summer 2013) of the joint Uzbek-Italian Archaeological Mission, directed by Prof. B. Genito of the Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale” and Dr M.H. Pardaev of the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. The site (2,62 ha) is located in the Pastdargom district (Samarkand area) close to Chandyr village, about 30 km Sout-West from Samarkand, and consists of a central citadel (tepe) delimited by walls. In addition, we will present the results of the preliminary petrographic analysis conducted in collaboration with the Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e delle Risorse dell'Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II” and a new chronological attempt for all the ceramics coming from the excavation activities (2009-2011-2012-2013).

Since 2010 the Italian Archaeological Expedition in Tigray, northem Ethiopia, of the University o... more Since 2010 the Italian Archaeological Expedition in Tigray, northem Ethiopia, of the University of Naples “L’Orientale” (UNO), directed by Rodolfo Fattovich, conducts archaeological investigations at the Pre-Aksumite site of Seglamen, ca. 15 km to the southwest of Aksum, in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Management of Aksum University (AU). Despite the area was archaeologically recorded and preliminary investigated in the early l970s, the definitive location of the Pre-Aksumite settlement was identified in 2006 and confirmed in 2009, when members of UNO expedition and representatives of AU visited the site. Since then, research activities including remote sensing, whole coverage archaeological survey, excavations and ethnographic enquiries have been carried out yearly allowing to assess the site’s extension, spatial organization and diachronic evolution. This paper will provide an account of the 2012 field activities and a general overview of the results also in the light of previous investigations.

The Joint Uzbek-Italian archaeological project of Università degli Studi di Napoli, l’Orientale (... more The Joint Uzbek-Italian archaeological project of Università degli Studi di Napoli, l’Orientale (UNO) and the Institute of Archaeology of Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan (IAASU) after three campaigns, has become more systematic and comprehensive and aimed at analyzing differing aspects of the urban evolution in the Pastargom district, from the Achaemenid to the Ellenistic and later period. The activities at Koj Tepa after the very short first campaign in May-June of 2008, the second in June-July 2009, the study activities in September 2010, continued with a more ample third season in 2011 (June-July) and a fourth in 2012 (August-September), through more extensive trial-trenches. The fourth season of excavation amongst the others, had the following main objectives, all aiming at investigating:

the area between the main tepe and the NE corner of the encircling wall, named Trench no 9, with different successive extensions;
the extended area in Trench no 5, according to the new general grid of the site put down this year, in order to possibly find earlier architectural and material culture;
the unexcavated Eastern half of Trench no 6;
as much as dating material culture possible, in order to achieve a more detailed typological and possibly chronological stratigraphic differentiation.

In the last years several and different motivations have pushed many scholars to adopt new strate... more In the last years several and different motivations have pushed many scholars to adopt new strategies to manage archaeological datasets. The growth of on-field archaeological activities have yielded an exponential increase of data, requiring new approaches and solutions in order to archive, safeguard and, finally, exploit this, apparently infinite, source of information. The expansion of the discoveries necessarily involves a more appropriate way to disseminate and spread research results.

In November 2010 the Italian Archaeological Expedition at Aksum of the Università degli Studi di ... more In November 2010 the Italian Archaeological Expedition at Aksum of the Università degli Studi di Napoli, “l’Orientale” (UNO), Napoli (Italy), conducted the 16th field season in the Aksum region under the direction of Rodolfo Fattovich. In 1992-2003 the expedition investigated Bieta Giyorgs hill to the north of Aksum as a joint research project with Boston University, under the direction of Rodolfo Fattovich (UNO) and Kathryn A. Bard (BU). In 2005-2009 the foot hill of Bieta Giyorgis and the plains to the north of the hill were investigated. In 2005-2006 the expedition surveyed the whole archaeological area of Aksum (100 sq km) in collaboration with the World Bank Ethiopian Cultural Heritage Project, Aksum Branch, and produced the detailed archaeological map of this area. In 2009 UNO expedition surveyed the archaeological site of Yeha (Adwa) and mapped with a laser scanner the Great Temple as a contribution to the archaeological heritage management of the area. Beginning in 2010 the UNO project included the valley of the Mai Nigus/Haselo from Addì Hankara (Woreda: Medegoy) to Adet (Woreda: Hawesta), with the surroundings of the modern villages of Medegoy, Seglamen, Mirina and Adet as main areas of investigation. The project is designed to survey this region along a transect about 5 × 20 km and to carry out excavations at selected sites. This segment of the Mai Nigus/Haselo valley was chosen for investigation because the valley, traditionally, was an important route from Aksum to the Tekeze river and from here to the internal regions of the Ethiopian highlands.
The research activity has been designed to provide:

a reconstruction of the cultural and environmental history of the region to the south-west of Aksum;
a detailed archaeological map of this region for the cultural heritage management of Central Tigray.

This paper focuses on the interpretation of data from the excavation of domestic buildings. The t... more This paper focuses on the interpretation of data from the excavation of domestic buildings. The theoretical assumption on which this paper is based is the reciprocal relationship between the architecture of the houses and the materials therein. It should be undertaken the analysis of the domestic architectonic space by means of an approach that emphasizes the peculiar features of the residential reality. Thus, this study aims to outline a model of systematic analysis for every aspect of domestic life concerning the so-called House B/E in Tamna, one of the buildings that are part of the “Market Square” of the ancient Qatabanite capital, dating back to the 3rd century B.C.

Nell’ambito delle attività archeologiche svolte nel sito di Barāqiš dalla Missione archeologica i... more Nell’ambito delle attività archeologiche svolte nel sito di Barāqiš dalla Missione archeologica italiana nello Yemen, rientrano una serie di prospezioni e rilevamenti topografici svolti nel santuario rupestre di Darb a¡-øabi. Il complesso architettonico, costituito da un insieme di strutture in pietra e mattoni crudi, sorge su una collina localizzata a 2 km sud di Barāqiš. Una serie di lastre monolitiche di confine riferiscono che la collina era sede di più edifici sacri dedicati al dio Nakrah, divinità patrona dell’antica YaÅill, e serviti da edifici civili annessi. Il sito fu oggetto di rilievo di superficie da parte di una Missione francese (Robin-Breton-Audouin) nel 1979, che ha effettuato dei rilievi planimetrici preliminari e raccolto le iscrizioni di superficie. La Missione italiana (Loreto-Valentini) ha effettuato una nuova serie di rilievi nel 2004, riconsiderando le strutture architettoniche del sito nell’ambito sia del comprensorio territoriale della città di Barāqiš sia dei santuari rupestri dello Yemen antico, i cui esempi conosciuti si sono moltiplicati nel corso degli ultimi 20 anni.

The fieldwork of the Expedition of the Università degli Studi di Napoli “l’Orientale” to the East... more The fieldwork of the Expedition of the Università degli Studi di Napoli “l’Orientale” to the Eastern Sudan took place from 1980 and 1995, was resumed after a gap of fifteen years in 2010, and continued in 2011 (Manzo 2011, 2012b).
At the very beginning of the project, the main goal of the research project was the explanation of similarities in the ceramic traditions of the Ethiopian highlands and of the Nile Valley. Thus, the Kassala region and Gash Delta, a study area located in an intermediate and crucial position for understanding the relationships between Ethiopian highlands and Nile Valley, was selected. This was an area which, before the fieldwork conducted from 1980 to 1995 by the Expedition, was virtually unknown from the archaeological point of view. Therefore, the definition of a cultural sequence for the Kassala region and Gash delta is an outstanding result of the fieldwork conducted by the Expedition in the 80s. Moreover, it was also possible to outline the processes taking place in the region.

The second study campaign on the ceramics collected from the excavations of the Italian-Uzbek Arc... more The second study campaign on the ceramics collected from the excavations of the Italian-Uzbek Archaeological Mission in Uzbekistan at Koj Tepa, directed by Prof. Bruno Genito and Dr. Kazim Abdullaev, was aimed at achieving a preliminary study of the ceramic materials (summer 2011) and a more detailed comparisons with the pottery production coming from the French excavation at Afrasyab. On the basis of this preliminary study, most part of the shape repertory is similar to that provided both by the previously proposed typology and the chronology: the 2nd century BC to the late historical period.

The Joint Uzbek-Italian archaeological project in the Samarkand region, aiming at detecting possi... more The Joint Uzbek-Italian archaeological project in the Samarkand region, aiming at detecting possible Achaemenid and post-Achaemenid horizons in the Samarkanda region (Sogdiana), started the activities at Koj Tepa in 2008. After the first two campaigns in May-June 2008, the field work continued with a third excavation season (June-July 2011), through more extensive trial-trenches at Koj tepa. The joint Uzbek/Italian team spent about 3 weeks in the area (from 12th June to 3rd July 2011), acting with a field operations within an official agreement between IAASU and UNO, signed in October 2008 in Samarkand and April 2009 in Naples. Field Activity (Summer 2011) Located very close in the outskirts of the Chandyr village, Koj Tepa (Kendyktepe), which, on the basis of the materials collected from the surface, from section nos 1 and 2 opened in 2008 from the trenches effected in 2009 and from the study activity in 2010, presents for the moment traces related to the post Achaemenid period as well. The third season of excavation amongst the others, had the following main objectives, all aimed at investigating: 1. the flat area between the encircling wall and the central tepe around the past trenches (Trench 7); 2. the area of the southern fortification wall in order to possibly identify its architectural evidence (length, width and height) 3. the top of the tepe in order to find earlier architectural and material culture (Trench 5); 4. as much as dating material culture possible, in order to achieve a more detailed typological and possibly chronological stratigraphic differentiation.

In December 2010 - January 2011, the Archaeological Expedition of the Università degli Studi di N... more In December 2010 - January 2011, the Archaeological Expedition of the Università degli Studi di Napoli, “l’Orientale” (UNO), and the Istituto Italiano per l’Africa e l’Oriente (IsIAO), Rome, in collaboration with the Boston University (BU) (USA), conducted the ninth field season at the site of Mersa/Wādī Gawasis, Red Sea, under the direction of Prof. Rodolfo Fattovich (UNO/IsIAO), and Prof. Kathryn A. Bard (BU). The team in the field included Italian, American, Egyptian, British, and German personnel with different specializations (archaeology, nautical archaeology, palaeo-ethnobotany, topography, conservation and computer science). Mr. Ahmend Sadiq Tawfiq represented the Supreme Council of Antiquities in the field, and greatly supported the work. The site of Mersa/Wādī Gawasis is located 23 km to the south of the modern port of Safaga, on the top and along the slopes of a fossil coral terrace, to the west of which is the lower Wādī Gawasis. Earlier excavations along the western slope of the terrace provided good evidence for the use of Mersa/Wādī Gawasis as the pharaonic port for voyages to Punt in the Middle Kingdom and the early New Kingdom. The 2010-2011 research program included archaeological excavations, robotic inspection of two man-made galleries (Cave 6 and Cave 7) in the western sector of the site (Wādī Gawasis), and conservation of timbers and ropes discovered in earlier field seasons at the site.

During September 2010, the Italian Archaeological Team, directed by Prof. B. Genito, spent about ... more During September 2010, the Italian Archaeological Team, directed by Prof. B. Genito, spent about 10 days in Samarkand, in order to achieve a preliminary study of the ceramic materials coming from the campaigns at Koj Tepa (2008 and 2009). The objectives of the campaign was aimed at the formulation of a typology which could support the dating of the trenches excavated up to now, and to a preliminarily fabric analysis which could clarify the mineralogical composition of the clay body used in the production. On the basis of this preliminary proposed typology one can assume that the materials could be dated starting since the 2nd century B.C. until late historical period.

A second archaeological campaign was performed on the site of Dūmat al-Jandal, the ancient Adumma... more A second archaeological campaign was performed on the site of Dūmat al-Jandal, the ancient Adummatu, between the 30th September and the 7th November 2010. The fieldworks, after a preliminary campaign carried out between the 23rd April and the 7th May 2009, took place within the framework of a agreement between the Italian Archaeological Mission, represented by Prof. Alessandro de Maigret and Dr. Romolo Loreto, and the Riyadh‘s GOTA (General Organization for Tourism and Antiquities). The agreement was extended, starting from 2010, to a partnership with the French Archaeological Mission in Saudi Arabia, represented by Prof. Christian J. Robin and Dr. Guillaume Charloux. The project is sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Università degli Studi di Napoli “l’Orientale”, the Istituto Italiano per l’Africa e l’Oriente in Rome, the French Centre for Scientific Research, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French Embassy in Riyadh.

A joint Iranian-Italian archaeological team started the activities in Bīšāpūr city in Fars region... more A joint Iranian-Italian archaeological team started the activities in Bīšāpūr city in Fars region in November 2012. The work has been possible thanks to the collaboration of the Research Center of Iranian Cultural Handicraft Heritage and Tourism Organization (RCICHHTO), the Iranian Centre for Archaeological Research (ICAR) of Iranian Cultural Handicraft Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO), the local base of the same Institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Ministero Italiano degli Affari Esteri (MAE), and the Università degli Studi di Napoli, l’Orientale (UNO). The technical instrumentation for graphic and photographic records is provided by CISA (Centro Interdipartmentale di Servizi per l’Archeologia of UNO). The field project is aimed at analysing the ways and the modes in which an urban area such as that of Bīšāpūr was firstly planned, designed and built, in consideration of the particular:
1. historical importance of the city (built and founded by the Sasanian king Šahpūr I in the 3rd century AD and living at least until the 10th century AD in Islamic period);
2. geo-morphological and landscape complexity of the territory where the city is located [a plain, a river (Šahpūr), water sources: Sarāb-e Ardašīr (Sarābšir) at North, Češmeh-ye Sāsān at East and Sarāb-e Dokhtarān at South, the cave (Šahpūr Cave)] in the geographic context of the Kazerun Karstic Aquifer area;
3. rich artistic, epigraphic and iconographic documentation distributed inside and outside the city, along the river with six different rock-reliefs [the I, the earliest (celebrating victories of Šapūr I), the II and the III (commemorating the defeat of Valerian), the IV (portraying an Arab embassy to Bahrām II), the V (Dedication of Bahrām I) and the VI (Victory of Šapūr II)], the famous statue of the king Šahpūr I in a cave and the inscription in middle Persian and Parthian on one of the celebrative columns in the city;
4. unique and impressive architectonic and urban evidences among which the castles (Qal‘e-ye Dokhtār, Qal‘e-ye Pesar), the city (Bīšāpūr), where a palace, a religious building interpreted as dedicated to the female Sasanian divinity Anāhīta, a Mosque and a Madrasa of the early Islamic time have been identified.

This article deals with the results of the 2012 fieldwork in the Central-Eastern Desert of Egypt ... more This article deals with the results of the 2012 fieldwork in the Central-Eastern Desert of Egypt and the studies in progress on some of the major related subjects. The project - promoted by the Italian Embassy in Egypt and directed by Irene Bragantini - is a joint collaboration of different Italian and Egyptian institutions (Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”, University of Cairo, Faculty of Geology, and University of Helwan, Faculty of Archaeology), and is aimed at investigating the central area of the Eastern Desert. The cooperation between archaeologists and geologists aims at conducting a geo-archaeological survey of the region in order to investigate the natural resources, their exploitation in the different periods, and the economic and commercial potential of the area. The methodology followed and the problems confronted with, demanded in fact the cooperation of different scientific grounds in order to reconstruct a geo-economic landscape. The Archaeological activity is sponsored by UNO and the Ministero Italiano degli Affari Esteri (MAE). The technical instrumentation for graphic and photographic records is provided by CISA (Centro Interdipartmentale di Servizi per l’Archeologia of UNO). The area to be investigated is that part of the Eastern Desert which extends just east of the Theban region, an area extremely important in almost all the periods of the Egyptian history; the zone is located in a strategic position because of the roads which bound the Nile Valley to the Red Sea (where they are closest to one another), and the geological nature of the area, characterized by a large outcrop of pre-Cambrian basement, which brought to the location of numerous rock quarries (particularly igneous), used for Egyptian architecture and statuary, and mines of different metals such as gold, copper, lead, iron and talc. In Roman period, the imperial administration has put on and maintained a complex system, in order to control the exploitation of the natural resources and the commercial potential of the area: the joint archaeological activity plans to investigate this system, in order to “read” the landscape on the basis of its natural resources. The northern limits of the grant includes the Wadi Hamamah, while the southern passes to the north of Wadi Hammamat, a way that - because of its importance and of the very numerous inscriptions and rock carvings scattered along most of its course - has been much studied in the past as well as in more recent times. Therefore we can regard the area as limited northwards and southwards by numerous other archaeological projects of surveys and excavations conducted by Institutions of different countries; one may mention the investigations on Mons Claudianus and Mons Porphyrites to the North, and the whole area from Qoptos to Qusseir and Qusseir al Qadim to the South.

The paper synthetically reports about the solutions adopted in the first year of the 3D-ICONS pro... more The paper synthetically reports about the solutions adopted in the first year of the 3D-ICONS project as far as the metadata are concerned and other quality recommendations have been implemented. One of 3D-ICONS main aims was to prepare an extension to the CARARE schema to support provenance and paradata required for the quality assurance of the 3D models. The project also intended to contribute to the maintenance of the CARARE schema by monitoring developments in the core module of the Europeana metadata schema (EDM). In Section 2 the paper focuses on the description of the starting point of the project in terms of definition of metadata for 3D objects; it introduces the CARARE metadata schema and the EDM schema highlighting the state-of-art of the two schemas showing some recent case-studies based on the integration of the two metadata schemas (CARARE-EDM). As far as the provenance is concerned, the paper describes the CRMdig schema recently adopted and customized by the 3D-COFORM project. Finally it addresses the paradata principles and how the input of paradata in the metadata schema are relevant for the new strategy of Europeana. Sections 3 and 4 report about the definition of the CARARE 2.0 schema based on the objectives of the 3D-ICONS and the results achieved in the mapping of CARARE on the EDM schema. In particular the paper outlines how to model provenance and paradata concepts implementing an event approach and correlating different activities that the object has taken part in.

After more than forty years since the discovery, the archaeological remains of possible Achaemeni... more After more than forty years since the discovery, the archaeological remains of possible Achaemenid age (6th-4th century BC) at Dahāne-ye Gholāmān in Sistan, eastern Iran, still represent an historical and archaeological open issue. Several scientific works have been produced on the topic within the last decades, especially from the Italian side. Their main aim was the re-evaluation of a remarkable set of data from those important archaeological activities in order to provide them with an acceptable and usable dress for the future. One can mention some of these independent and original contributions, or other more general works of different character where the site of Dahāne-ye Gholāmān has been dealt with under different perspectives: the restoration activities carried out in the 1970s; studies on the origins of hearths, fireplaces and altars; the particular central-peripheral character of its archaeological remains; its importance within a general outline on the archaeological history of Iran; its role in a general outline of the history of Italian excavations in Sistan; its role in the frame of the archaeological activities of UNO; a revision of the activities in Sistan and at Dahāne-ye Ghulāmān in the light of their peripheral location; a general outline of pre-Islamic Sistan; an attempt to discuss the background of the historical sources facing to the landscape and the architecture at the site; a general outline of Eastern Iran in the Achaemenid period; a re-evaluation of the history of the excavations in Sistan and analysis of the ceramic materials kept for many years in the storeroom of IsMEO/IsIAO and MNAOr in Rome. All these contributions have tried to give some answers to the many questions arisen forty years ago and never completely solved up to now, also because the excavation activity was interrupted and never fully resumed. The ArchaeoPro.Di.Mu.S. is to be located within this context of investigation and research of the past by the excavation documentation through the modern technology. The need for a complete management of the whole graphic and photographic documentation (effected at Dahāne-ye Gholāmān - Sistan) begins from the use of photography as a tool to be consulted and interrogated. It is, therefore, possible to associate all kind of spatial and archaeological information to any photographic archive. The data sharing over the web is the easiest way to make the user able to consult and query all the information provided from a system administrator. The project provides a data entry and data visualization structure through a WebGIS. The collected data will be managed in a spatial RDBMS PostgreSQL/PostGIS with an appropriate graphical interfaces. This structure was designed to manage the photographic archive of the archaeological activities at Dahāne-ye Gholāmān - Sistan in the 60s and 70s of the XX century by IsMEO.

The present paper intends to give a preliminary overview of the activities carried out by the joi... more The present paper intends to give a preliminary overview of the activities carried out by the joint Saudi-Italian-French archaeological project at Dūmat al-Jandal (ancient Adummatu), between September 20th and November 20th 2012. The fourth campaign focused on the continuation of the activities set up during the 2009-2011 campaigns, and on new systematic analyses of the archeological site and its surroundings. Research topics ranged from the identification of palaeo-environments in the ancient al-Jawf landscape to a better understanding of the site’s chronology, by means of extensive excavations, without omitting the use of many archaeometric methods and the setting up of fieldwork training activities, and also and above all, of the conservation of local ancient and Islamic monuments which are in danger of disappearance. The activities were realized with contributions by CNRS, UMR 8167, Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), Musée du Louvre, French Federation of Speleology (FFS), UNO, Cyprus Institute, Aix-Marseille University, University of Geneva, Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR, Paris IV, the Labex Resmed (University of Paris IV), FFS. Financial and technical support for the 2012 archaeological season was provided by the Ministero Italiano degli Affari Esteri (MAE), the Università degli Studi di Napoli“ L’Orientale” (UNO), the Centro Interdipartimentale di Servizi di Archeologia (CISA) of UNO, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, , the French Embassy in Riyâdh, the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS France). Further analyses will be conducted with the collaboration of the German Archaeological Mission at Rajâjîl of the Institut für Vorderasiatische Archäologie, Freie Universität in Berlin.

According to the application submitted to the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums an... more According to the application submitted to the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums and to the research project submitted to the granting Institutions, the goal of the 2012 field season of the Italian Archaeological Expedition to the Eastern Sudan of UNO was the completion of the investigations at the site UA 53 and the conduction of a closer investigation of site UA 126 with the excavation of some test pits. These tasks were regarded as urgent because the two sites will be affected by the ongoing building of the new dams on the Atbara and Setit rivers and by the implementation of an agricultural scheme in the area between the Gash and the Atbara (Upper Atbara Agricultural Irrigated Scheme), which are endangering many archaeological sites of the region. As the Expedition considered it a priority to contribute to the cultural heritage management of the Kassala region, some of the endangered sites were selected for further investigations in 2010. These sites could also be significant for the research project of the Expedition which is aimed at gaining a better knowledge of the relationships between Eastern Sudan and Upper Nubia as well as to investigate the possible relationships between the cultures of Eastern Sudan and the Red Sea coast via the Eastern Desert. Both UA 53 and UA 126 were among them. The field season was made possible by the economic contribution of the following institutions: Ministero Italiano degli Affari Esteri (grant 2012), UNO (research grant 2012 and contribution of the Centro Interdipartimentale di Servizi per l’Archeologia (CISA). Crucial was the support of the Poliass Marine & General insurance broker company, Naples, Italy. The field work took place from November 19th to December 19th.

Of the “remnants of the old factories of the city of Aveia [...] not to be fixed elsewhere than i... more Of the “remnants of the old factories of the city of Aveia [...] not to be fixed elsewhere than in the vicinity of the earth Fossa”, in the words of Abbot Giovenazzi, only the core containment of the Roman theatre incorporated into a seventeenth-century building (the so-called King's Palace) and long stretches of wall, which define more precisely the space occupied by the ancient city, which was one of the political and administrative center of the vast praefectura comprising the territories of Aveia and Peltuinum, remain visible today. For an extraordinary coincidence, the whole territory of Fossa is a potential widespread archaeological park, where the evidence of prehistoric and pre-roman (necropolis, fortified settlements of Monte Cerro and Colle Restoppia), Roman (Aveia) and early Middle Ages (convents S. Angelo and S. Spirito, the church of St. Mary Cryptas) alongside one another without actually overlap. To contribute to the preservation and restoration of this unique historic landscape devastated by the earthquake of 6 April 2009, in July of the same year, a research group made up of a number of universities, including UNO, performed for the first time in a programmatic surveys at the site of Aveia. The commitment of UNO is continued in the following years: between 2010 and 2012 all the documents relating to the “Palace of the King” was re-examined, and it was initiated a census of the structures still visible or known in the past in order to start the procedures applicable for entry by the Superintendence for Archaeological Heritage of Abruzzo region and, above all, some areas of the walls have been investigated, performing targeted stratigraphic tests. In the latter case, the program of study had as its objective the identification of the exact location of the boundary walls and the determination of its structure and history.

The main aim of this third report is to present a summary of the results achieved about the study... more The main aim of this third report is to present a summary of the results achieved about the study on the ceramic materials coming from the fourth season (summer 2012) of excavations of the joint Italian-Uzbek Archaeological Mission, directed by Prof. Bruno Genito of the Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale” and Dr. Kazim Abdullaev of the Institute of Archaeology of Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Samarkand in Koj Tepa. The site, close to Chandyr village, in the Pastdargom district, about 27 km south-west of the modern city of Samarkand, is located in an area between the southern piedmont region of Karatjube chain (once populated by nomadic tribes) and the northernmost more extensive cultivated area with wheat and cotton; it consists of a central citadel (tepa) 9 meters high, encircling by fortified walls and a moat. The project is organized with the collaboration of Peking University, the CNRS and the Università Cattolica of Milano. Un-diagnostic potsherds coming from the 2012 archaeological excavations amount to 1790 fragments, each of them recorded in the MS Access™ Database, mainly in order to highlight the quantitative aspect and the occurrence of the fabrics. The 53% (992 items) of the potsherds comes from Trench 6, the 33% (561) from Trench 9 and the 14% (237 items) from Trench 5. Diagnostic potsherds, instead, are 314 of which 94 are the significant constituting also the Inventory. As it is shown, most of the diagnostic materials come from Trench 6, as well as the significant materials. After these preliminary studying steps, all the diagnostic potsherds were stored in the database as well as the significant that were, also, photographed and drawn. The quantitative overview is shown.

In November 2011 the Italian Archaeological Expedition of the Università degli Studi di Napoli “L... more In November 2011 the Italian Archaeological Expedition of the Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale” (UNO), Naples, Italy, under the direction of Rodolfo Fattovich, conducted the 17th field season of investigations in the region of Aksum, Tigray, northern Ethiopia, the second in the area of Seglamen. The project is implemented in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology of the Aksum University (AU), within the framework of a formal agreement between UNO and AU established since 2009 and aimed at conducting joint research programs and at providing undergraduate students in Archaeology with a theoretical and practical training in survey and excavation procedures and in laboratory analysis. Archaeological researches at Seglamen are part of a broader project launched in 2010 and aimed at investigating a 100 sq km transect along the Mai Negus/Haselo river valley from Addì Hankara (Medegoy woreda) to Adet (Hawesta woreda) with the territories around the modern villages of Medogwe, Seglamen, Merina and Adet as major areas of investigation. This transect has been selected as the Mai Negus/Haselo river valley represented an important traditional exchange route linking Aksum and the Tigrean highlands to the Tekeze river in the south-west and, through this, to the southern regions of the Ethiopian plateau. The research has been designed to provide:

a reconstruction of the cultural and environmental history of the region to the south-west of Aksum;
a detailed archaeological map of this region for the cultural heritage management of Central Tigray.
In 2011 investigations focused exclusively on the Pre-Aksumite site of Seglamen SG1 where a monumental area and a cemetery had been identified and partially excavated in 2010. The topographic survey of the terrace, begun in 2010, has been completed in order to define the general morphology of the area of the site, using a total station Trimble M3 5”.

In December 2009-January 2010 the Archaeological Expedition of Università degli Studi di Napoli “... more In December 2009-January 2010 the Archaeological Expedition of Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale” (UNO), and the Istituto Italiano per l’Africa e l’Oriente (IsIAO), Rome, in collaboration with Boston University (BU), Boston (USA) conducted the 9th field season at the site of Mersa/Wadi Gawasis, Red Sea, under the direction of Prof. Rodolfo Fattovich (UNO/IsIAO), and Prof. Kathryn A. Bard (BU). The team in the field included Italian, American, Egyptian, British, and German personnel with different specializations (archaeology, nautical archaeology, epigraphy, geology, paleoethnobotany and topography). The site of Mersa/Wadi Gawasis is located 23 km to the south of the modern port of Safaga, on the top and along the slopes of a fossil coral terrace, to the west of which is the lower Wadi Gawasis. Earlier excavations along the western slope of the terrace provided good evidence of the use of Mersa Gawasis as the pharaonic harbor for voyages to Punt in the Middle Kingdom and the early New Kingdom. In 2009-2010 fieldwork at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis included geological and archaeological investigations, mapping, laser-scanner surveying and conservation. Geological investigations were conducted in the wadi bed and confirmed the hypothesis that the lower Wadi Gawasis was originally a lagoon with an open channel to the sea. Archaeological excavations were conducted along and at the base of the western slope of the coral terrace and in the “harbor area” at the base of the southwestern slope of the terrace.

Oggetto delle ricerche archeologiche che l’ Università degli Studi di Napoli “l’Orientale” condu... more Oggetto delle ricerche archeologiche che l’ Università degli Studi di Napoli “l’Orientale” conduce a Cirene è l’area occupata dalla cosiddetta “Casa del Propileo”, una vasta costruzione (25x50 m) situata in uno dei punti più interessanti della topografia cirenaica, immediatamente ad Ovest dell’ agorà, alla quale l’edificio si allinea raggiungendone le proporzioni a Nord e a Sud. A Nord l’edificio insiste, proprio come l’agorà, su poderose sostruzioni, secondo un programma di ampliamento e monumentalizzazione che ha investito in età ellenistica tutto il settore; a Sud si affaccia con un monumentale propileo sulla Skyrotà, la famosa via che collega l’Acropoli alla città.
L’interesse per le indagini in questa zona, iniziate negli anni ’70, proseguite con numerose interruzioni fino ai giorni nostri e non ancora concluse, è nato sulla base di precise problematiche, connesse con la individuazione di una probabile “piccola agorà arcaica” ad Ovest della agorà classica che permettesse la ricostruzione dell’assetto originario dell’area al momento della colonizzazione e la definizione dello specifico modello organizzativo urbano di Cirene, un centro che con le sue caratteristiche anomale nel panorama dei movimenti coloniali greci - composizione non omogenea del primo nucleo coloniale, rapporti amichevoli con le popolazioni autoctone e soprattutto regime monarchico ereditario - sembra rendere pleonastica l’esistenza di una agorà nei primi anni di vita della colonia.

A first archaeological campaign has been carried out at Dûmat al-Jandal between April 23 and May ... more A first archaeological campaign has been carried out at Dûmat al-Jandal between April 23 and May 7 2009. The field work, which follows a preliminary visit of the site we could accomplish on June 2008, has been realized after the approval of an “Italian proposal of research at Dûmat al-Jandal” by the “Saudi General Organization for Tourism and Antiquities” (GOTA). The project is co-sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE/DGPC), Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale” (UNO) and the Istituto Italiano per l’Africa e l’Oriente of Rome (IsIAO). The Italian Archaeological Mission carries on its researches under the patronage of the IsIAO. A formal Joint Cooperative Agreement for a five years period of activities was signed at Riyadh on May 5 at the presence of HH Prince Sultan ibn Salman ibn ‘Abdul ‘Aziz and the Italian Ambassador Eugenio D’Auria. The program of the first campaign was aimed to: 1) obtaining a first comprehensive map of the Archaeological Park around the Mârid castle; 2) starting some systematic excavations in the same Archaeological Park.

During the 2009 field season the Italian Archaeological Expedition at Aksum (Tigray) of the Unive... more During the 2009 field season the Italian Archaeological Expedition at Aksum (Tigray) of the Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale” (UNO), Naples (Italy), conducted a preliminary reconnaissance of the archaeological site at Yeha, near Adwa, for a preliminary assessment of the archaeological area. In conformity with the requirements of the Authority for Research and Conservation of the Cultural Heritage (ARCCH), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the activity of the expedition strictly focused on the area currently occupied by the village of Yeha where a) the systematic survey of the ancient settlement, and b) a Laser Scanner survey of the main temple were conducted. In addition, the expedition continued the archaeological survey of the region to the north of Aksum, along the May Gwodae river, where few new sites were documented and included into the archaeological map of Aksum elaborated in 2005/2006 as part of the World Bank Ethiopian Cultural Heritage Project - Aksum Branch - Site Inventory and Documentation Component. Moreover, a Laser Scanner survey of the Mausoleum was carried out in the Stelae Park to generate a detailed 3D model of the funerary complex.

The archaeological project in the Samarkand region aimed at detecting and investigating an Achaem... more The archaeological project in the Samarkand region aimed at detecting and investigating an Achaemenid horizon in Sogdiana after the first short campaign of May-June 2008 continued in summer 2009 through more extensive trial-trenches at Koj tepa. This tepa is a rather important settlement, constituted by a citadel encircled by walls, inside strongly destroyed, cut through by a modern activity of bulldozers, which, according to the topographic results achieved by the IAM of the Bologna University, presented partial remains of the city walls; though not still clearly identified; this wall was most probably encircling a truncated-cone-sh high citadel, according to a settlement pattern of a constructive urban system typical for sites in ancient Samarkand and Ustrushana areas. A new general map of the site is going to be realized by a laser-scanner survey promoted by the Università degli Studi di Napoli, L’Orientale. The joint Uzbek/Italian team acts in a work inserted within the frame of an official agreement between IAASU and UNO, signed in October 2008 in Samarkand and April 2009 in Naples. The second season of excavation at Koj Tepe in 2009 has been aimed at investigating the area around section no 1 and 2, in the presumed area of the eastern city-wall of the site in order to achieve a typological and possibly chronological stratigraphic differentiation; in the meantime two main objectives were followed: to find some architectural evidence of the wall (length, width, height) and to collect as much dating material culture as possible.

The Chinese-Italian Archaeological Mission to Longmen was established in 1997 with the aim of bri... more The Chinese-Italian Archaeological Mission to Longmen was established in 1997 with the aim of bringing to light the Buddhist monastic complex of the Fengxiansi 奉先寺, whose remains lie southwest of the cele¬brated Longmen Caves, 12 km south of the present town of Luoyang 洛阳, in the Chinese province of Henan 河南. When Buddhism was at its most widespread in China, during the Northern Wei 北魏 (386-534) and Sui 隋 (581-618) dynasties, and for most of the Tang唐dynasty (618-907), the city of Luoyang stood out as both a political and a religious centre. The same period saw the excavation of the over 2000 sanctuaries cut in the limestone cliff along the banks of the Yi River 伊水, 12 km south of the modern city. The complex was to become famous with the name of Longmen 龙门, Dragon Gate, and was declared a world heritage of humanity site by UNESCO in 2000.

The paper is a preliminary report of the excavations carried out along the Salerno / Reggio Calab... more The paper is a preliminary report of the excavations carried out along the Salerno / Reggio Calabria motorway next to Pontecagnano. The preliminary research on the north-western part of the road has been entrusted by the Archaeological Superintendence of Salerno, Avellino and Benevento to the University of Napoli L’Orientale (U.N.O.). The work was carried out with the intent of keeping the conservation and valorisation of the ancient Etruscan-Campanian city and its territory, basically to the light of an agreement signed by U.N.O and the University of Salerno. The archaeological mission of U.N.O. was directed for the whole period, by the late Gianni Bailo Modesti, who was involved in a long time research and mainly focused on the systematic investigation of Pontecagnano’s ancient necropolis and settlement. The excavation brought to the light the Eneolithic necropolis of the Gaudo phase. The recent archaeological investigations along the motorway had, moreover, allowed him to conclude his research on the northern sanctuary of Pontecagnano.

In 2001 the University of Naples “L’Orientale” (UNO), Naples (Italy), and the Italian Institute f... more In 2001 the University of Naples “L’Orientale” (UNO), Naples (Italy), and the Italian Institute for Africa and Orient (IsIAO), Rome, in collaboration with the Boston University (BU) started the investigations at the site of Marsa/Wadi Gawasis on the Red Sea coast, Egypt, under the direction of Rodolfo Fattovich (UNO/IsIAO) and Kathryn Bard (BU). The site is located 23 km to the south of the modern port of Safaga, on the top and along the slopes of a fossil coral terrace, which delimits the lower Wadi Gawasis to the north. The archaeological investigations at Marsa/Wadi Gawasis are part of long-term program, started since the early 1980s, regarding the development of long-distance trade between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, from late prehistoric to early historical times. Actually, Marsa/Wadi Gawasis was already identified in the mid-1970s as the Egyptian port from where seafaring expeditions were sent to the land of Punt in the southern Red Sea in the first part of the 12th Dynasty. After seven seasons conducted by the Italian-American Expedition, our knowledge of Marsa/Wadi Gawasis was considerably enlarged.

The Italian-French researches effected in the last years on the inhabited area of the Roman city ... more The Italian-French researches effected in the last years on the inhabited area of the Roman city of Paestum, in collaboration with the Conseil National pour the Recherche Scientifique - Institut de Recherche sur the Architecture antique and the Universitè de Aix-en-Provence, is continued with the study of the results of old and new excavations conduced in the inhabited area. The authors here are giving a a brief synthesis of the problems and the results until now achieved and known in a volume just published (Fig. 1) in the series Poseidonia-Paestum.

After seven excavation campaigns in the ruins of Barâqish (Yemeni Jawf), the article is resuming ... more After seven excavation campaigns in the ruins of Barâqish (Yemeni Jawf), the article is resuming the main results of the researches carried on by the Joint Italian-Yemenite Archaeological Mission in Yemen (1989-1990, 2003-2007). The region where the work was carried out, the Jawf, is one of the most impenetrable regions of Yemen, but it is also one of the richest in pre-Islamic antiquities: more than a dozen of Sabaean, Minaean and Madhabite walled cities are scattered there, but none has been excavated up to now, except Barâqish. The two beautiful temples, the necropolis, the two stratigraphical probes and the many object, ceramics and inscriptions found give one a first direct picture of the Minaeans, a commercial people who lived in the Arabia Felix and was well known in the classical world.

From 2005 the Italian Archaeological Expedition of the University of Naples “l’Orientale” (Naples... more From 2005 the Italian Archaeological Expedition of the University of Naples “l’Orientale” (Naples, Italy) under the direction of Rodolfo Fattovich is conducting archaeological investigations in the area of Aksum, mainly focussing along the slopes of Bieta Giyorgis hill and in the plain north of it. The project is aimed at integrating by mean of a multidisciplinary approach different technological and research procedures in order to reconstruct the long-term dynamics of man-environment interaction occurred in the region between 3000 BC and AD 1500 with a particular reference to the urban development of the ancient capital city of Ethiopia, and to better understand the process of human exploitation, manipulation, and management of the territory in ancient times. The project includes research in archaeology (survey and excavation), palaeoethnobotany, palinnology, archaeozoology, geology, geomorphology, geoarchaeology, ethnoarchaeology and ethnohistory as well as mapping and GIS and remote sensing analysis.

The joint Italian/Iranian project is aimed at providing a gradual transformation of the whole set... more The joint Italian/Iranian project is aimed at providing a gradual transformation of the whole set of the original data and information (written, graphic, photographic etc.), of the archaeological excavation of the Masjed-i Jom‘e in Isfahan carried on in the 70s of last century, in a digital archive, in order to publish all the data in a shorter time possible. Such a work, either for its heterogeneity or quantity, has required and daily requires a very detailed and accurate preliminary analysis on the basis of the quantity and quality of the data. These are partially kept in Italy (in Is.IA.O Centro Scavi and in the deposits of Museo Nazionale d’Arte Orientale in Rome) amongst whose drawings, photos, journals of excavations and written notes, and in Iran (in the deposit of the Masjed-i Jom‘e at Isfahan), amongst whose mainly wooden boxes of finds (mainly pottery, glasses, stuccoes, architectural decorations, cloths, paintings fragments etc.). The basic idea of a digital archive is to elaborate and develop standard procedures and methods for achieving very different and heterogeneous data coming from an excavation, in order to realise an Information System with strong multimedia character.

The article is dealing with a new archaeological project carried on by UNO, in the frame of a mor... more The article is dealing with a new archaeological project carried on by UNO, in the frame of a more ample activity leaded by the University of Bologna, in agreement with the Institute of Archaeology of Academy of Sciences of Samarkand and related to the Achaemenid archaeological horizon in Central Asia. Any archaeological perspective related to the Achaemenids in the area should be preliminarily inserted in the very scarce, though complicated historical framework given and left by the ancient sources dealing with the region and the related peoples. Sogdiana was populated by a people speaking and writing in an eastern Iranian language: the Sogdian. According to the Greek and Roman authors, the region was located between the territories comprised by two rivers, the Oxus (Amu Darya) and Iaxartes (Syr Darya), and the southern border was running along the Zeravshan mountain range. It is not clear, however, whether the Sogdians populated all the lands which Greek and Roman authors attribute to the region.

Achaemenid Studies Today Naples, 11-13 December A Societas Iranologica Euoropaea Mid-Term Confe... more Achaemenid Studies Today
Naples, 11-13 December

A Societas Iranologica Euoropaea
Mid-Term Conference

Jointly organized with
"L’Orientale" Università degli Studi di Napoli
ISMEO - Rome

Achaemenid Studies Today Naples, 11-13 December A Societas Iranologica Euoropaea Mid-Term Confe... more Achaemenid Studies Today
Naples, 11-13 December

A Societas Iranologica Euoropaea
Mid-Term Conference

Jointly organized with
"L’Orientale" Università degli Studi di Napoli
ISMEO - Rome

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