Detailed project information

The Via Appia, "Queen of Roads", became a hallmark of the political and cultural presentation of the city of Rome as the centre of the then existing world, and is still seen as an iconic monument of ancient Rome. "Mapping the Via Appia" aims at a thorough inventory and analysis of the Roman interventions in their suburban landscape, focussing on a section of the road.

The wealth of archaeological monuments preserved both above and beneath ground level, as well as the opulent documentary evidence in archives and digital resources (mainly photographs), make a very detailed multidisciplinary analysis of the history of the road and its surroundings possible. At the same time, this huge amount of wide-ranging data poses some methodological challenges and requires the development of new documentation and analysis strategies. The complex architectural design of several monuments, as well as the detailed archival records, have resulted in an archaeological and historical landscape which cannot be studied by only using established recording systems like regional field survey projects. Therefore, the project uses a new and innovative research strategy designed especially for the efficient recording and study of complex and monumental archaeological landscapes with long occupational histories. For this means, professional GPS (DGPS) is used which refines the techniques of archaeological survey and documentation of visual remains. The proposed project's main strength, however, is the use of new 3D spatial mapping and analysis techniques, combined with geophysical prospection, remote sensing techniques, field survey, excavation and archival studies. As a result, the project not only offers invaluable new data on the functioning of this particular and other Roman consular roads, but will also provide a new methodological framework for studying monumental archaeological landscapes that can be used and further devolved on other research projects.

The project "Mapping the Via Appia" has support from the archaeological service responsible for the area, the Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Roma. Recognizing the expertise of our research group, dr Rita Paris, responsible for the Via Appia in the suburbs of Rome, has personally invited our team to carry out this research and gives full cooperation.