February 1, 2024 - October 31, 2025
Coastal Landscapes and Roman Maritime Villas: A Comparative Regional Study of Architectural Models and Environmental Settings
Coastal heritage is increasingly at risk from both natural and man-made factors, and it is therefore crucial to document it before it is destroyed forever. Maritime villas play a crucial role in comprehending ancient urbanisation and the dynamic relationship between humans and the environment. The CLaRMaV project aims to investigate the typology of Roman maritime villas in the Mediterranean regions and how they impacted on, and were shaped by, their local environments. CLaRMaV has three main objectives that aim at comparing the villa-models from an architectural, environmental, and socio-economic standpoint. First, it aims at identifying and comparing the different architectural models developed across the Mediterranean Basin and any regional variations linked to local conditions; the prevailing trends over time; the reasons behind design choices; and the use of individual architectural spaces. Second, it explores the dialogue between domestic architecture and the environment and looks at the use of available natural resources, with particular focus on water usage, an important theme with current relevance. Third, it determinates the role of maritime villas in their local economy, by looking at their production activity. The multidisciplinary project’s methodology combines the interpretation of archaeological data and documentary sources with the use of GIS, 3-D technologies, and Hydraulic Engineering. CLaRMaV is the first attempt at an accurate large-scale study aimed at identifying Mediterranean-wide trends. This in turn will help understand the cultural developments and traditions of regions, offering a tool to not only better link ancient and modern cultural heritages, but also to generate and make available data useful to local authorities in charge of preservation of coastal heritage and urban planning. The project involves a first outgoing phase at the University of Pennsylvania (Associated Partner) followed by a return phase at the University of Bologna (Coordinator), under the supervision of professors Mantha Zarmakoupi (UPenn) and Annalisa Marzano (UniBo). Before moving to the United States, the Research Fellow will benefit of a secondment at the E-GEA - Centro Interuniversitario per gli studi del Territorio with center to the University of Bologna, under the supervision of Prof. Marco Dubbini with the support of Prof. Attilio Castellarin (Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering). During this secondment, deeper knowledge in Environmental studies and necessary skills in Hydraulic Engineering will be acquired, and the base structure of the GIS for CLaRMaV project will be established.
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101106554
https://www.unibo.it/en/research/projects-and-initiatives/horizon-europe/582/677/16788