Archaeology in Lazio | Research Group

Studies and research on rock-cut necropolises; the history of rock-cut funerary architecture; cultural relations and contacts with similar complexes in the Mediterranean area.

Alongside topographical studies (such as the one carried out with the Italian Geographical Society on the Province of Viterbo, or the study on Falerii Veteres), research is developed on major funerary complexes and monuments of significant architectural value, such as the rock-cut necropolis of Norchia. These studies are aimed at producing scientific publications supporting preventive protection, conservation, enhancement, and public use of the investigated cultural heritage, as well as the planning of archaeological parks and museum displays, and the creation of computerized thematic maps for use in local planning regulations by territorial authorities (resp. Laura Ambrosini).

Studies on figurative culture, production processes, technology, and the circulation of artefacts.

Research on artistic craftsmanship is developed along several lines of inquiry:

1. study of ceramic, bronze, glyptic, and painted production, including the archaeometric analysis of ceramics and metals;
2. the Corpus Speculorum Etruscorum;
3. la ricontestualizzazione degli specchi prenestini (Corpus delle Ciste Prenestine).

(resp. Laura Ambrosini).

Starting from the study and re-edition project of the rich armed funerary complex 104 from the Fondo Artiaco at Cuma, this research aims to investigate both the networks of meaning connecting emerging elites in southern Etruria and Campania—particularly through the analysis of so-called “insignia of power”—and the interaction between local communities and “newcomers” during the pre- and colonial horizons (resp. Andrea Babbi).

Urban excavations, research on territorial organization, and publication of archaeological complexes from the city and its necropolis.

The research aims to deepen knowledge of this Tyrrhenian metropolis through excavation interventions in the urban area and its surrounding territory, with the goal of reconstructing its urbanistic and architectural history. An ongoing excavation project, carried out under a ministerial concession since 2014, is currently focused on the sanctuary of the Manganello, on the northern slope of the city. The project also includes the exploration of underground cavities, in collaboration with speleologists from the non-profit organization ASSO. Since 2019, the project has been supported by the Luigi Rovati Foundation (resp. Marco Arizza).

The study aims to investigate, from a historical-archaeological perspective, selected types of ancient artefacts from both collections and excavation contexts, with particular attention to Etruscan and Roman bronzes and Roman architectural terracottas. The villa at Cottanello has yielded a rich assemblage of Campana-type terracottas belonging to the decoration of various parts of the building. The significance of this ceramic corpus has enabled in-depth research on this production, especially characteristic of the Augustan period, both in relation to the villa itself (through typological analyses, digital cataloguing, virtual reconstructions, and archaeometric studies of the clay) and in relation to other villas in the area, in particular the Villa of the Volusii Saturnini at Lucus Feroniae, from which numerous examples of this type also originate. (resp. Alessandra Caravale)

Formation of aristocracies and social identity, the “gift,” and prestige objects, with a focus on the close cultural contacts between north-central Apulia and the Tyrrhenian area. The research pays particular attention to the presence of numerous imported prestige goods deposited in the burial assemblages of elite individuals at the top of local communities, as well as to their meaning and underlying symbolism. A key aspect is also the contextual study approach, aimed at deepening the understanding of the social identity of the deceased and the forms of self-representation expressed through funerary practices. (resp. Andrea C. Montanaro)

The main focus of this research line is the Etruscan centre of Veii and its urban and rural necropolises, with particular attention to the social dimension of funerary practices, as well as to the strategies and dynamics of territorial occupation and exploitation. The study also addresses archaeological materials through typological approaches and their interpretation within their cultural contexts. Alongside the project for the publication of several urban and rural necropolises—resulting from both nineteenth-century excavations and more recent investigations—field research is being carried out at Casa Agrifoglio, a previously unexplored necropolis known only through survey data and aerial photography. The earliest evidence, dating to the 8th century BC, has revealed tombs and funerary assemblages attributable to Etruscan elites, confirming the exceptional scientific potential of the area. This discovery offers a unique opportunity to further investigate funerary practices, the formation processes of Etruscan aristocracies, and the relationship between social organisation and landscape. The investigations, conducted using stratigraphic excavation methods and an integrated approach to landscape and ancient spatial analysis, have confirmed the outstanding importance of the context for reconstructing a crucial phase of Etruscan history. (resp. Alessandra Piergrossi)

The multidisciplinary research carried out at the villa of Cottanello (Rieti), conducted under a concession from the Ministry of Culture between 2013 and 2019, included excavation campaigns, topographical and geophysical surveys, structural analyses, archaeological and archaeometric studies of materials, as well as the creation of 3D reconstructions. The project is currently continuing with initiatives aimed at furthering knowledge and enhancing the site, alongside the study of other Roman villas in the Sabina Tiberina area. Great attention is also devoted to dissemination activities, through digital tools and numerous third-mission initiatives in local municipalities, particularly during the European Heritage Days. (resp. Carla Sfameni)

La villa romana di Cottanello

The research line concerning Corchiano, a Faliscan site in the province of Viterbo, is focused on the scientific publication of the necropolis excavated in the late 19th century by A. Cozza and A. Pasqui within the framework of the Carta Archeologica d’Italia. The finds from Corchiano are partly displayed in the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia and in the Archaeological Museum of the Faliscan Agro in Civita Castellana, and partly preserved in their respective storerooms. The volume will analyse the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic phases of the Corchiano necropolis through the funerary assemblages recovered from tombs excavated in the burial areas of Caprigliano, the Vallone, and along the Fosso del Ponte delle Tavole. (resp. Laura Ambrosini)

This research project aims to examine the material culture of the Latium Vetus during the Orientalising period (8th–6th century BC), adopting an interdisciplinary approach that combines historical-archaeological research, digital applications, and diagnostic analyses. The study focuses on exchange dynamics, technological innovations, and the role of artefacts of eastern origin (orientalia), with particular attention to the definition of gender markers and the significance of female figures in the social transformations of the period. It also aims to analyse the management of archaeological sites and museums in order to identify the most suitable models for the knowledge, conservation, and enhancement of this archaeological heritage, respecting territorial specificities and the needs of local communities. (resp. Maria Taloni)

The so-called “Phoenician-Cypriot” type oinochoai constitute a fundamental chronological marker for the Mediterranean between the 8th and 6th centuries BC and represent an emblematic case study for a multianalytical and interdisciplinary approach. This approach aims to better understand the complex debate concerning the relationship between imported originals, local productions, and ceramic imitations in central Italy. The research methodology integrates traditional typological analysis with archaeometric investigations, aimed at examining composition and manufacturing techniques, as well as digital applications such as 3D scanning for volumetric analysis. These combined methods allow for the acquisition of data on vessel function and on possible models of production standardisation. (resp. Maria Taloni)

The CNR Rome 1 Research Area in Montelibretti preserves an archaeological heritage of exceptional significance: in addition to the numerous burials belonging to the Sabine necropolis of Colle del Forno, structures associated with a rural building from the Roman period were already brought to light in the 1970s during the construction of the first laboratories These structures, previously unpublished and overgrown with dense vegetation, have recently been documented and identified as parts of a large cistern featuring internal pillars. Geophysical investigations carried out by the Geophysics Laboratory of Institute of Heritage Science (ISPC) in Rome have defined the extent of the cistern and identified further anomalies, suggesting the possible presence of related structures in a wider area to the south. The project aims to further investigate this complex, interpretable as a probable Roman villa, and to analyse the phases of occupation of the territory, with the goal of enhancing the archaeological heritage of the Research Area. (resp. C. Sfameni, F. Colosi)

Figured ambers from Italy have long been considered by scholars as “minor” material classes and have often been studied in isolation as evidence of an accessory aesthetic taste rather than major artistic expression. However, recent studies on these refined artefacts from pre-Roman Italy—especially when considered within their archaeological contexts—have reassessed their value, recognising them as highly significant luxury goods central to the social life of Italic communities on the peninsula. Since no comprehensive and systematic study of carved ambers depicting human figures, animals, and other subjects currently exists, this research aims to address the complex issue of the possible existence of multiple workshops. It seeks to classify production centres and workshops, outlining their distinctive features and main stylistic traits. The study also investigates sites that functioned as centres of power, capable of acquiring and redistributing these luxury ornaments, attracting both foreign artisans with their cultural and iconographic traditions and fostering the development of local workshops. (resp. Andrea C. Montanaro)