Domenico A M Marino
- Graduated in Letters (v.o. - archaeological specialization) at the University of Bari, specialized in Archeology (National School of Archeology of Rome), he subsequently obtained a PhD at the University of Rome La Sapienza (consortium with the University of Perugia , Sassari and Urbino), conferred by the Minister of University and Scientific Research. After a long career as a professional archaeologist and high school teacher, he worked until 2014 in the Superintendency for Archaeological Heritage of Calabria, where he was Director of the Prehistory and Protohistory Service, Director of the National Archaeological Museum of Crotone and of the Territorial Office of Crotone and Sila. He was also Director of the National Archaeological Museum of Sibari and of the Territorial Office of the Sibaritide. He directed the underwater archeology investigations in the sea and lakes in the territories of his competence. From October 2014 to 2017 he worked in the Superintendency for Archaeological Heritage of Friuli Venezia Giulia, where he was Director of the National Museum of Underwater Archeology of the Upper Adriatic and Director of the NAUSICAA Underwater Archeology Operations Unit, as well as head of Underwater Archeology for the regional territory and the territorial waters and responsible for the territory of Gorizia. From 2015 to 2016 he was also Vicar of the Superintendent. He was a contract professor, for three academic years (2006-2009), at the teaching of Ancient Topography at the University of Calabria and has held numerous courses, conferences and seminars at the Université de Genève (2010-2011), by invitation of the Faculté des Lettres and the Maison de l'Histoire. Currently, after having worked - in 2017 - in Service 2 (Excavations and protection of archaeological heritage) of the Directorate General for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape, he is in service at the Central Institute for Archaeology. He has published several monographs and a hundred articles in scientific journals and conference proceedings. He also carried out journalistic activity, publishing about two hundred articles in newspapers and periodicals. In 2013 he was awarded the Umberto Zanotti Bianco National Award by Italia Nostra and since 2018 he has been a national honorary member.
- Laureato in Lettere (v.o. - indirizzo archeologico) presso l'Università di Bari, specializzato in Archeologia, Preistoria e Protostoria (Scuola Nazionale di Archeologia di Roma), ha successivamente conseguito il Dottorato di Ricerca in Archeologia (Preistoria) presso l'Università di Roma La Sapienza (consorziata con le Università di Perugia, Sassari e Urbino), conferito dal Ministro dell'Università e della Ricerca Scientifica. Dopo lunga attività come archeologo professionista e docente nei Licei, ha lavorato fino al 2014 nella Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Calabria, dove è stato Direttore del Servizio di Preistoria e Protostoria, Direttore del Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Crotone e dell'Ufficio Territoriale di Crotone e della Sila. E' stato anche Direttore del Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Sibari e dell'Ufficio Territoriale della Sibaritide. Ha diretto inoltre le indagini di archeologia subacquea in mare e nei laghi nei territori di competenza. Dall'ottobre 2014 al 2017 ha lavorato nella Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici del Friuli Venezia Giulia, dove è stato Direttore del Museo Nazionale di Archeologia subacquea dell’Alto Adriatico e Direttore del Nucleo Operativo di Archeologia subacquea NAUSICAA, nonché responsabile dell'Archeologia Subacquea per il territorio regionale e le acque territoriali e responsabile del territorio di Gorizia. Dal 2015 al 2016 è stato anche Vicario del Soprintendente. E' stato Docente a contratto, per un triennio accademico (2006-2009), presso l'insegnamento di Topografia Antica dell'Università della Calabria e ha tenuto numerosi corsi, conferenze e seminari presso l'Université de Genève (2010-2011), su invito della Faculté des Lettres e della Maison de l'Histoire. Attualmente, dopo aver operato - nel 2017 - nel Servizio 2 (Scavi e tutela del patrimonio archeologico) della Direzione Generale Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio, è in servizio presso l'Istituto Centrale per l'Archeologia. E' membro della Commissione di verifica presso la Direzione Generale Educazione, Ricerca e Istituti Culturali e responsabile del procedimento per il profilo professionale di archeologo. Ha pubblicato diverse monografie e un centinaio di articoli in riviste scientifiche ed atti di convegni. Ha svolto, inoltre, attività giornalistica, pubblicando circa duecento articoli su quotidiani e periodici. Nel 2013 è stato insignito da Italia Nostra del Premio Nazionale Umberto Zanotti Bianco e dal 2018 è Socio onorario nazionale.
Phone: +39 06 6723 4633
Address: c/o Istituto Centrale per l'Archeologia - Via di San Michele, 22 - 00153 Roma
- Laureato in Lettere (v.o. - indirizzo archeologico) presso l'Università di Bari, specializzato in Archeologia, Preistoria e Protostoria (Scuola Nazionale di Archeologia di Roma), ha successivamente conseguito il Dottorato di Ricerca in Archeologia (Preistoria) presso l'Università di Roma La Sapienza (consorziata con le Università di Perugia, Sassari e Urbino), conferito dal Ministro dell'Università e della Ricerca Scientifica. Dopo lunga attività come archeologo professionista e docente nei Licei, ha lavorato fino al 2014 nella Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Calabria, dove è stato Direttore del Servizio di Preistoria e Protostoria, Direttore del Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Crotone e dell'Ufficio Territoriale di Crotone e della Sila. E' stato anche Direttore del Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Sibari e dell'Ufficio Territoriale della Sibaritide. Ha diretto inoltre le indagini di archeologia subacquea in mare e nei laghi nei territori di competenza. Dall'ottobre 2014 al 2017 ha lavorato nella Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici del Friuli Venezia Giulia, dove è stato Direttore del Museo Nazionale di Archeologia subacquea dell’Alto Adriatico e Direttore del Nucleo Operativo di Archeologia subacquea NAUSICAA, nonché responsabile dell'Archeologia Subacquea per il territorio regionale e le acque territoriali e responsabile del territorio di Gorizia. Dal 2015 al 2016 è stato anche Vicario del Soprintendente. E' stato Docente a contratto, per un triennio accademico (2006-2009), presso l'insegnamento di Topografia Antica dell'Università della Calabria e ha tenuto numerosi corsi, conferenze e seminari presso l'Université de Genève (2010-2011), su invito della Faculté des Lettres e della Maison de l'Histoire. Attualmente, dopo aver operato - nel 2017 - nel Servizio 2 (Scavi e tutela del patrimonio archeologico) della Direzione Generale Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio, è in servizio presso l'Istituto Centrale per l'Archeologia. E' membro della Commissione di verifica presso la Direzione Generale Educazione, Ricerca e Istituti Culturali e responsabile del procedimento per il profilo professionale di archeologo. Ha pubblicato diverse monografie e un centinaio di articoli in riviste scientifiche ed atti di convegni. Ha svolto, inoltre, attività giornalistica, pubblicando circa duecento articoli su quotidiani e periodici. Nel 2013 è stato insignito da Italia Nostra del Premio Nazionale Umberto Zanotti Bianco e dal 2018 è Socio onorario nazionale.
Phone: +39 06 6723 4633
Address: c/o Istituto Centrale per l'Archeologia - Via di San Michele, 22 - 00153 Roma
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Papers by Domenico A M Marino
The paper offers a preliminary summary of the results obtained during the land surveying activities carried out between 2011 and 2014 along the middle Tacina valley and, more precisely, in the territory of the Crotone pre-Sila included within the municipal territories of Cotronei, Cutro, Mesoraca, Roccabernarda, San Mauro Marchesato and Petilia Policastro. The surveys were designed with the aim of acquiring new data and monitoring, for the purposes of protection, the sites already known on the basis of two main lines of intervention: archaeological research in the field through direct reconnaissance in sample areas and a census of documents archive and materials resulting from old acquisitions currently in custody at the deposits of the National Archaeological Museum of Crotone. The Tacina valley is an area still little known from an archaeological point of view although it has constantly played a decisive role over the millennia, due to its peculiar geomor-phological and environmental characteristics, regardless of the multiform articulations with which human settlements have been structured in the central-eastern Calabria. The results of the research are of considerable interest as they offer a previously unknow, yet surprising, framework of the settlement dynamics and material culture in terms of richness and variety over a very long period of time that develops from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Early Middle Ages.
una netta prevalenza della componente erbacea su quella arborea in tutti i siti indagati. Ciò è probabilmente dovuto all’abbattimento del bosco da parte dell’uomo per fare spazio all’insediamento e ai campi coltivati.
La componente arborea costituisce il 22,1% dello spettro pollinico a Piano di Cecita e il 17,8% a Campo San Lorenzo. Fra le legnose dominano le Conifere, con valori medi inferiori al 15%, e con prevalenza di Pini. Le
Latifoglie Decidue, che non superano mai il 10%, sono rappresentate da specie tipiche del Querceto con Querce caducifoglie accompagnate da numerose altre specie. Buona è la testimonianza degli Indicatori Antropici, in particolare sono documentati cereali. Discreta è la presenza della canapa. Gli Indicatori Antropici Spontanei prevalgono nei livelli di frequentazione, con numerose piante tipiche delle zone di calpestio.
Elevata negli spettri è la presenza delle piante tipiche delle praterie, che in numerosi campioni superano il 50%; prevalgono le Poaceae spontanee seguite dalle Cicorioidee. La presenza di queste piante attesta attività legate all’allevamento del bestiame per la produzione di latte, carne e lana.
SUMMARY – Archaeo-environmental investigations in Neolithic and Eneolithic Calabrian sites (Piano di Cecita, Campo San Lorenzo sul Lago Cecita and Corazzo di Soverito) – first data on the reconstruction of landscape, economy and diet. In the years 2005 to 2008 the Superintendence for Archaeological Heritage of Calabria has conducted extensive archaeological investigations on Sila Upland, headed by Domenico Marino. The archeobotanical inquiries in the late Neolithic and Eneolithic sites on the edge of Cecita Lake (Piano di Cecita and Campo San Lorenzo), have outlined a remarkably open vegetational landscape with a clear predominance of the herbaceous component in comparison of arboreal ones in all the investigated sites. This is probably due to the deforestation process to enlarge the settlement space and the cultivated fields. The arboreal component constitutes 22.1% of the pollen spectrum of Piano di Cecita and 17.8% of Campo San Lorenzo. Among the woody plants the Conifers are prevailing, with average values below 15%, and Pines are the most representative species. The Deciduous hardwood, which never exceed 10%, are represented by species typical of Querceto with prevailing oaks accompanied by other deciduous plants.
The frequent traces of the indicators species, in particular cereals, and the presence of Cannabis are well documented. The Anthropic Indicators Spontaneous prevail in attendance levels, with many plants typical of the
walking areas. In the pollen spectrum the presence of typical grassland plants is very high and in many samples exceeds 50%; spontaneous grasses are the most represented species followed by Cicorioidee. The presence of these plants confirms the breeding activities for the production of milk, meat and wool.
The paper offers a preliminary summary of the results obtained during the land surveying activities carried out between 2011 and 2014 along the middle Tacina valley and, more precisely, in the territory of the Crotone pre-Sila included within the municipal territories of Cotronei, Cutro, Mesoraca, Roccabernarda, San Mauro Marchesato and Petilia Policastro. The surveys were designed with the aim of acquiring new data and monitoring, for the purposes of protection, the sites already known on the basis of two main lines of intervention: archaeological research in the field through direct reconnaissance in sample areas and a census of documents archive and materials resulting from old acquisitions currently in custody at the deposits of the National Archaeological Museum of Crotone. The Tacina valley is an area still little known from an archaeological point of view although it has constantly played a decisive role over the millennia, due to its peculiar geomor-phological and environmental characteristics, regardless of the multiform articulations with which human settlements have been structured in the central-eastern Calabria. The results of the research are of considerable interest as they offer a previously unknow, yet surprising, framework of the settlement dynamics and material culture in terms of richness and variety over a very long period of time that develops from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Early Middle Ages.
to the study of typology, chronology, technology and function - A high number of fragments of large protohistoric impasto pithoi has been found in several sites in the area, and mainly in Serre di Altilia (central Calabria). These fragments have been studied with other pithoi from Tropea (southern Calabria), in order to reconstruct their forms, typology, chronology, technology and function. It has been possible to define five types, with chronologies that may vary from the Final Bronze to the Early Iron Age, and with parallels in several sites of Southern Italy, in Sicily and at Lipari. Petrografic analyses on fragments from Central Calabria have shown a quite variable production, locally and/or regionally made. Chemical analyses have been also performed on two residue samples, in order to identify what kind of foodstuff was originally stored in these pithoi. The results of the analyses show the presence of terpenoid resins, such as Pistacia or Pinus, which may suggest the presence of wine.
Based on an integration of archaeological, geomorphological, stratigraphic, pedological, volcanological and soil charcoal (pedoanthracological) data, the following paleoclimatic/environmental reconstruction is proposed: a warm and humid, seasonally contrasted climate, with an overall geomorphological stability suited for soil development, characterized the late prehistoric environment (Holocene climatic
optimum), dominated by a widespread oak forest. The main pedogenetic processes consisted in organic matter accumulation, clay illuviation, phyllosilicate and short-range order mineral neogenesis from weathering of granite and volcanic ash, sourced from late PleistoceneeHolocene eruptions of the Aeolian Islands. One or more mid-Holocene episodes of climate deterioration towards drier conditions (indicated
by a decrease of clay translocation processes and possible irreversible dehydration of poorly-crystalline aluminosilicates into phyllosilicate clay minerals) promoted intense land degradation. This was in turn enhanced by increasing human activities for settlement and resource exploitation (among which deforestation and ploughing for agriculture), which led to a shift of the vegetation cover towards a dominant pine forest between 3 ka BP and the Roman epoch. Humid and possibly cooler climatic conditions during the late Holocene are indicated by the decrease of clay illuviation, coupled with shortrange order components prevailing over phyllosilicate clays during Roman soil formation.
phyllosilicates, and no to scarce clay coatings. These features indicate a transition towards (probably cooler) prolonged humid conditions, intercalated by one or more drought episodes. Severe land degradation is recorded between these major climatic phases, indicated by human impact (deforestation and agriculture) and soil erosion. Soil charcoal analysis from Cecita soils provide evidence of these anthropogenic
environmental changes, as indicated by the dominance of deciduous oak forest in Neolithic soils, followed by a transition to a mountain pine forest recorded in the Roman soils. A deciduous oak forest characterizes the vegetation at Palmi from the Neolithic onward.
In 2009 and 2010 the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Calabria, under Dr. Domenico Marino’s scientific direction, with support from ProMare, launched a systematic exploration of the Crotonian littoral between the city’s harbor and La Tonnara. While the area of Croton was already known to be one of the richest in Italy for the presence of ancient shipwrecks (five Roman marble carriers are worth mentioning, along with 10 other shipwrecks ranging in time from the Greek Archaic period to the Renaissance Age), the main goal of the project was to search for traces of ancient habitation which might testify to changes in the coastline. Submerged features such as quarries with their carved blocks still connected to the bedrock, and the presence of artifact assemblages close to the shoreline, were among the types of evidence sought. If found, the former feature, in particular, would be useful in helping researchers reconstruct and date stone-working areas that were above sea-level in antiquity.
During two seasons of research, compelling evidence attesting to this coastal transformation was uncovered. Thirty-four submerged quarry elements (blocks and column-drums), some of them dating to the 6th century BC and still attached to the bedrock, were located at a maximum depth of 4 m; a new map of the quarry now shows the extent of this feature beneath the water. Additionally, numerous tiles and amphora sherds, one example of which dated to the 3rd century B.C., confirmed the presence of human habitation in the areas of the coastline now submerged beneath the sea. Pieces of amphoras dating to the Roman Imperial period and found at the entrance to the city’s harbor, testify, as well, to its use at from at least the 2nd century B.C.
At the end of the 2010 season enough data was collected to propose a possible reconstruction of the ancient coastline in the area. Each item or feature uncovered was measured and georeferenced, making it possible to trace the general shape of the former coastline, which was at least 70 m further offshore than at present. GPS coordinates, taken manually, and following the submerged outlines of three elongated shoals, 1 to 5 m deep, revealed the shape of promontories now submerged like the tiny islands of Croton’s archipelago.
The petrographic (OM) and chemical analyses (XRF analysis) on the ceramic of Crotone evidenced a strong compositional heterogeneity. Comparison with literature data supported two different production areas: Western (Southern Italy) and Aegean area.
UV Fluorescence on biotic crusts, allows to evaluate the relationship between the biotic colonization and the ceramic paste and to trace the alteration pervasiveness due to the encrusting organism.
de Genève, se sont poursuivies en 2014 selon deux axes, travaux sur le terrain et recherches thématiques, complétés par des actions pour la préservation du patrimoine et
le lancement de la série Kroton, une sous-série dirigée par le Prof. Lorenz E. Baumer et le Dr. Domenico Marino de la nouvelle série des Etudes genevoises sur l’Antiquité –
EGeA, qui est destinée à accueillir les publications liées au projet.
Prospections archéologiques 2014
Crotone: zone nord-ouest
Crotone: San Biagio et Vrica
Vallée du Lese: Serra di Dera, Timpone del Castello et Scuzza
Antéfixe avec tête d’«Artémis Bendis» (pl. 25, 4)
The paper offers a preliminary summary of the results obtained during the land surveying activities carried out between 2011 and 2014 along the middle Tacina valley and, more precisely, in the territory of the Crotone pre-Sila included within the municipal territories of Cotronei, Cutro, Mesoraca, Roccabernarda, San Mauro Marchesato and Petilia Policastro. The surveys were designed with the aim of acquiring new data and monitoring, for the purposes of protection, the sites already known on the basis of two main lines of intervention: archaeological research in the field through direct reconnaissance in sample areas and a census of documents archive and materials resulting from old acquisitions currently in custody at the deposits of the National Archaeological Museum of Crotone. The Tacina valley is an area still little known from an archaeological point of view although it has constantly played a decisive role over the millennia, due to its peculiar geomor-phological and environmental characteristics, regardless of the multiform articulations with which human settlements have been structured in the central-eastern Calabria. The results of the research are of considerable interest as they offer a previously unknow, yet surprising, framework of the settlement dynamics and material culture in terms of richness and variety over a very long period of time that develops from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Early Middle Ages.
una netta prevalenza della componente erbacea su quella arborea in tutti i siti indagati. Ciò è probabilmente dovuto all’abbattimento del bosco da parte dell’uomo per fare spazio all’insediamento e ai campi coltivati.
La componente arborea costituisce il 22,1% dello spettro pollinico a Piano di Cecita e il 17,8% a Campo San Lorenzo. Fra le legnose dominano le Conifere, con valori medi inferiori al 15%, e con prevalenza di Pini. Le
Latifoglie Decidue, che non superano mai il 10%, sono rappresentate da specie tipiche del Querceto con Querce caducifoglie accompagnate da numerose altre specie. Buona è la testimonianza degli Indicatori Antropici, in particolare sono documentati cereali. Discreta è la presenza della canapa. Gli Indicatori Antropici Spontanei prevalgono nei livelli di frequentazione, con numerose piante tipiche delle zone di calpestio.
Elevata negli spettri è la presenza delle piante tipiche delle praterie, che in numerosi campioni superano il 50%; prevalgono le Poaceae spontanee seguite dalle Cicorioidee. La presenza di queste piante attesta attività legate all’allevamento del bestiame per la produzione di latte, carne e lana.
SUMMARY – Archaeo-environmental investigations in Neolithic and Eneolithic Calabrian sites (Piano di Cecita, Campo San Lorenzo sul Lago Cecita and Corazzo di Soverito) – first data on the reconstruction of landscape, economy and diet. In the years 2005 to 2008 the Superintendence for Archaeological Heritage of Calabria has conducted extensive archaeological investigations on Sila Upland, headed by Domenico Marino. The archeobotanical inquiries in the late Neolithic and Eneolithic sites on the edge of Cecita Lake (Piano di Cecita and Campo San Lorenzo), have outlined a remarkably open vegetational landscape with a clear predominance of the herbaceous component in comparison of arboreal ones in all the investigated sites. This is probably due to the deforestation process to enlarge the settlement space and the cultivated fields. The arboreal component constitutes 22.1% of the pollen spectrum of Piano di Cecita and 17.8% of Campo San Lorenzo. Among the woody plants the Conifers are prevailing, with average values below 15%, and Pines are the most representative species. The Deciduous hardwood, which never exceed 10%, are represented by species typical of Querceto with prevailing oaks accompanied by other deciduous plants.
The frequent traces of the indicators species, in particular cereals, and the presence of Cannabis are well documented. The Anthropic Indicators Spontaneous prevail in attendance levels, with many plants typical of the
walking areas. In the pollen spectrum the presence of typical grassland plants is very high and in many samples exceeds 50%; spontaneous grasses are the most represented species followed by Cicorioidee. The presence of these plants confirms the breeding activities for the production of milk, meat and wool.
The paper offers a preliminary summary of the results obtained during the land surveying activities carried out between 2011 and 2014 along the middle Tacina valley and, more precisely, in the territory of the Crotone pre-Sila included within the municipal territories of Cotronei, Cutro, Mesoraca, Roccabernarda, San Mauro Marchesato and Petilia Policastro. The surveys were designed with the aim of acquiring new data and monitoring, for the purposes of protection, the sites already known on the basis of two main lines of intervention: archaeological research in the field through direct reconnaissance in sample areas and a census of documents archive and materials resulting from old acquisitions currently in custody at the deposits of the National Archaeological Museum of Crotone. The Tacina valley is an area still little known from an archaeological point of view although it has constantly played a decisive role over the millennia, due to its peculiar geomor-phological and environmental characteristics, regardless of the multiform articulations with which human settlements have been structured in the central-eastern Calabria. The results of the research are of considerable interest as they offer a previously unknow, yet surprising, framework of the settlement dynamics and material culture in terms of richness and variety over a very long period of time that develops from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Early Middle Ages.
to the study of typology, chronology, technology and function - A high number of fragments of large protohistoric impasto pithoi has been found in several sites in the area, and mainly in Serre di Altilia (central Calabria). These fragments have been studied with other pithoi from Tropea (southern Calabria), in order to reconstruct their forms, typology, chronology, technology and function. It has been possible to define five types, with chronologies that may vary from the Final Bronze to the Early Iron Age, and with parallels in several sites of Southern Italy, in Sicily and at Lipari. Petrografic analyses on fragments from Central Calabria have shown a quite variable production, locally and/or regionally made. Chemical analyses have been also performed on two residue samples, in order to identify what kind of foodstuff was originally stored in these pithoi. The results of the analyses show the presence of terpenoid resins, such as Pistacia or Pinus, which may suggest the presence of wine.
Based on an integration of archaeological, geomorphological, stratigraphic, pedological, volcanological and soil charcoal (pedoanthracological) data, the following paleoclimatic/environmental reconstruction is proposed: a warm and humid, seasonally contrasted climate, with an overall geomorphological stability suited for soil development, characterized the late prehistoric environment (Holocene climatic
optimum), dominated by a widespread oak forest. The main pedogenetic processes consisted in organic matter accumulation, clay illuviation, phyllosilicate and short-range order mineral neogenesis from weathering of granite and volcanic ash, sourced from late PleistoceneeHolocene eruptions of the Aeolian Islands. One or more mid-Holocene episodes of climate deterioration towards drier conditions (indicated
by a decrease of clay translocation processes and possible irreversible dehydration of poorly-crystalline aluminosilicates into phyllosilicate clay minerals) promoted intense land degradation. This was in turn enhanced by increasing human activities for settlement and resource exploitation (among which deforestation and ploughing for agriculture), which led to a shift of the vegetation cover towards a dominant pine forest between 3 ka BP and the Roman epoch. Humid and possibly cooler climatic conditions during the late Holocene are indicated by the decrease of clay illuviation, coupled with shortrange order components prevailing over phyllosilicate clays during Roman soil formation.
phyllosilicates, and no to scarce clay coatings. These features indicate a transition towards (probably cooler) prolonged humid conditions, intercalated by one or more drought episodes. Severe land degradation is recorded between these major climatic phases, indicated by human impact (deforestation and agriculture) and soil erosion. Soil charcoal analysis from Cecita soils provide evidence of these anthropogenic
environmental changes, as indicated by the dominance of deciduous oak forest in Neolithic soils, followed by a transition to a mountain pine forest recorded in the Roman soils. A deciduous oak forest characterizes the vegetation at Palmi from the Neolithic onward.
In 2009 and 2010 the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Calabria, under Dr. Domenico Marino’s scientific direction, with support from ProMare, launched a systematic exploration of the Crotonian littoral between the city’s harbor and La Tonnara. While the area of Croton was already known to be one of the richest in Italy for the presence of ancient shipwrecks (five Roman marble carriers are worth mentioning, along with 10 other shipwrecks ranging in time from the Greek Archaic period to the Renaissance Age), the main goal of the project was to search for traces of ancient habitation which might testify to changes in the coastline. Submerged features such as quarries with their carved blocks still connected to the bedrock, and the presence of artifact assemblages close to the shoreline, were among the types of evidence sought. If found, the former feature, in particular, would be useful in helping researchers reconstruct and date stone-working areas that were above sea-level in antiquity.
During two seasons of research, compelling evidence attesting to this coastal transformation was uncovered. Thirty-four submerged quarry elements (blocks and column-drums), some of them dating to the 6th century BC and still attached to the bedrock, were located at a maximum depth of 4 m; a new map of the quarry now shows the extent of this feature beneath the water. Additionally, numerous tiles and amphora sherds, one example of which dated to the 3rd century B.C., confirmed the presence of human habitation in the areas of the coastline now submerged beneath the sea. Pieces of amphoras dating to the Roman Imperial period and found at the entrance to the city’s harbor, testify, as well, to its use at from at least the 2nd century B.C.
At the end of the 2010 season enough data was collected to propose a possible reconstruction of the ancient coastline in the area. Each item or feature uncovered was measured and georeferenced, making it possible to trace the general shape of the former coastline, which was at least 70 m further offshore than at present. GPS coordinates, taken manually, and following the submerged outlines of three elongated shoals, 1 to 5 m deep, revealed the shape of promontories now submerged like the tiny islands of Croton’s archipelago.
The petrographic (OM) and chemical analyses (XRF analysis) on the ceramic of Crotone evidenced a strong compositional heterogeneity. Comparison with literature data supported two different production areas: Western (Southern Italy) and Aegean area.
UV Fluorescence on biotic crusts, allows to evaluate the relationship between the biotic colonization and the ceramic paste and to trace the alteration pervasiveness due to the encrusting organism.
de Genève, se sont poursuivies en 2014 selon deux axes, travaux sur le terrain et recherches thématiques, complétés par des actions pour la préservation du patrimoine et
le lancement de la série Kroton, une sous-série dirigée par le Prof. Lorenz E. Baumer et le Dr. Domenico Marino de la nouvelle série des Etudes genevoises sur l’Antiquité –
EGeA, qui est destinée à accueillir les publications liées au projet.
Prospections archéologiques 2014
Crotone: zone nord-ouest
Crotone: San Biagio et Vrica
Vallée du Lese: Serra di Dera, Timpone del Castello et Scuzza
Antéfixe avec tête d’«Artémis Bendis» (pl. 25, 4)
Cette exposition raconte la présence du sacré dans cette cité grecque du sud de l'Italie (Paris, INHA, 15 janvier – 31 mars 2011). Des photographies donnent à voir une sélection des trouvailles des archéologues qui nous font découvrir l’histoire et les sanctuaires de cette cité puissante.
Exposition réalisée en collaboration avec l’Office territorial de Crotone et Sila de la
Surintendance pour le patrimoine archéologique de la Calabre, et le département des sciences de l’Antiquité de l’université de Genève.
“Rapidamente intanto all’isola delle Sirene giunse la nave ben costruita: la spingeva il vento propizio. Ma all’improvviso il vento cessò e fu calma bonaccia, un dio placò le onde del mare” (Odissea, XII, 166-169).
Così scriveva il poeta, descrivendo il periglioso viaggio di Ulisse. Ed un vento propizio, forse un dio bonario, ha riportato a casa la Sirena di bronzo che, anni fa, mani nemiche della cultura strapparono a questa terra e, dopo un lungo viaggio, fecero approdare a lidi stranieri.
Lo straordinario askòs – forse di fabbrica krotoniate - che conteneva unguenti preziosi, posto a corredo in una tomba di Murgie, località ora in comune di Strongoli che si ritiene corrisponda all’antica Makalla, è stato restituito al Museo di Crotone.
Una complessa attività extragiudiziale, portata avanti dal Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali e dal Comando Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale, d’intesa con l’Avvocatura Generale dello Stato, ha consentito di raggiungere questo obiettivo2, costantemente perseguito fin dal 1992.
L’azione sviluppata dal Nucleo di Cosenza del Comando Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale, guidato dal Cap. Raffaele Giovinazzo, ha permesso di acquisire dati importanti - per l’attività extragiudiziale e per la ricerca archeologica - sul luogo e sulle modalità di rinvenimento dell’importante reperto. Le immagini inedite dell’unguentario appena scavato e della sepoltura depredata, presentate nel corso della cerimonia
di riconsegna tenutasi a Crotone il 27 novembre 2009, vengono qui pubblicate a corredo della relazione del Cap. Giovinazzo.
In quella giornata, con grande emozione nostra e di tutti i presenti, l’askòs di Murgie, che a lungo era stato esposto nelle collezioni del “Paul Getty Museum” di Malibu, fece finalmente ritorno a casa per essere immediatamente esposto al pubblico.
Tutta la vicenda conferma che la stretta collaborazione tra organi dello Stato conduce a risultati positivi e di grande rilievo sul piano della tutela del patrimonio culturale. Ciò è importante in Calabria, e nel territorio di Crotone in particolare, dove l’attività di rapina dei beni archeologici ha sottratto alla fruizione pubblica reperti di grande valore.
“Chi senza saperlo si accosta e ode la voce delle Sirene, non torna più a casa, i figli e la sposa non gli si stringonointorno, festosi” (Odissea, XII, 41-43).
Questa volta, come per l’astuto Ulisse, la voce delle sirene descritta dal poeta non è stata apportatrice di sventure. Anzi, a far compagnia alla Sirena di Makalla è giunta anche la Sirena della chora meridionale di Kroton, anch’essa appartenente forse ad un corredo funebre. Conservato
lungamente presso il Museo Nazionale di Reggio Calabria, anche quest’askòs di probabile fabbrica krotoniate è ritornato nella sua terra d’origine.
Come ha rilevato non molti anni fa Luisa Breglia, le Sirene hanno una grande importanza nell’insegnamento pitagorico, che a Kroton – com’è noto - ebbe scuola fiorente. Le Sirene di Pitagora sono poste nella tetrade, simbolo per eccellenza del pensiero del filosofo di Samo, elemento su cui la scuola prestava giuramento, ed in quanto comprese nella tetrade, esprimono l’armonia cosmica.
I due askòi di bronzo a forma di Sirena, di eccezionale unicità nel panorama archeologico mondiale, contribuiscono ad arricchire ulteriormente il già vasto patrimonio del Museo Nazionale Archeologico di Crotone e ne segnalano – semmai ve ne fosse bisogno - l’assoluta centralità per la storia culturale ed archeologica della Magna Graecia e non solo.
Domenico Marino
Direttore del Museo Nazionale Archeologico di Crotone
spumeggiante come il vino omerico, ci ha svelato, lentamente nel tempo, la sua organizzazione urbanistica.
Le grandi plateiai parallele alla costa e gli stenopoi ortogonali ad essa, disegnano uno
straordinario reticolo, distinto in tre grandi quartieri, meridionale, centrale e settentrionale, scanditi dai corsi d’acqua che traevano linfa dall’entroterra, un tempo felicemente gravido di rigoglio arboreo.
Noto è ormai il perimetro delle mura allungate sulle creste delle colline e, poi, lungo la costa, laddove le alluvioni le hanno sepolte. Note sono alcune aree sacre extra-urbane, oltre all’Heraion lacinio, il santuario di Vigna Nova, prossimo alle mura, e quello di Sant’Anna, alle sorgenti del fiume Esaro.
Tanto dunque conosciamo, ma poco o nulla ci è concesso vedere, poiché tutto è sepolto, negato dalle necessità contingenti, dall’erudizione libresca che si gloria delle radici mitiche, ma è incapace di riconoscere il reale valore delle testimonianze ereditate dall’evo antico che potrebbero, queste sì, disegnare nuovi e concreti orizzonti di sviluppo.
Questa mostra si prefigge, ora, il compito di aprire il dibattito sulla individuazione e possibile collocazione delle tante aree sacre che, certo, popolavano la grande città, dentro le mura.
Molti sono i materiali, facenti parte dell’esposizione museale permanente o custoditi nei depositi, che testimoniano la destinazione cultuale di alcuni luoghi della pólis Kroton.
Tra tutti, spicca senza dubbio il rilievo, in marmo nassio, con una coppia di figure femminili a colloquio, nelle quali la nuova e stimolante interpretazione suggerisce di riconoscere due divinità, una delle quali è forse Era. Questi dati, insieme alle fonti letterarie ed antiquarie,
sollecitano una approfondita riflessione sull’articolazione della città antica che,
nell’archeologia urbana del XX secolo, è mancata, forse perché è stata limitata dal continuo ricorrere allo scavo d’urgenza, in uno scontro, perduto in partenza, tra le esigenze pubbliche della tutela e della ricerca e gli interessi localistici, non solo privati, legati ad una espansione edilizia miserrima, disordinata e che ha violentato il paesaggio, incidendo negativamente sulla società.
Il titolo della mostra “O Dei di Kroton!” vuole essere realmente un’invocazione affinché risorga, in questa città del Sud “antiquissimam et aliquando Italiae primam”, il senso di appartenenza – non di facciata – ad una civiltà culturale che ancora illumina il mondo, ma qui sembra regalarci solo pallidi riflessi.
Domenico Marino
Direttore del Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Crotone
Il sito è posto su uno dei terrazzi collinari che domina, da ovest, l’abitato cittadino.
In primo luogo, mediante survey, è stata evidenziata un’area di reperti di superficie; in seguito, indagini geofisiche hanno rilevato anomalie tali da far presupporre la presenza di strutture interrate.
Un intervento di scavo ha infine rivelato la presenza di un complesso architettonico, databile al V secolo, composto da un edificio monoaulato con terminazione absidata, orientato E-W, e da un piccolo vano attiguo. Intorno, con particolare concentrazione sul lato N-W, lo scavo ha messo in luce un nucleo di tombe (V-VII secolo), cronologicamente coeve e in alcuni casi successive all’edificio sacro, con corredi di notevole interesse, con singoli oggetti anche notevolmente più antichi.
L’edificio mostra una fase di abbandono e di spoglio testimoniata dalla rasatura delle murature e dal riutilizzo di alcuni elementi architettonici nella necropoli.
Tale complesso, di sicura funzione religiosa, conserva, di fatto, l’edificio di culto cristiano più antico finora noto nel territorio di Crotone.
Organisation: Unité d’archéologie classique (Département des sciences de l’Antiquité)
branch of the Italian Fine Arts Bureau, has been developing a multi-year project
of prehistoric archaeological investigations focused in the Sila area, a large and
mountainous territory located in the Province of Calabria in Southern Italy, close
to the cities of Cosenza and Crotone.
Both archaeological excavations and extensive surveys have revealed the presence
of several sites dating from the Paleolithic to the Iron Age. They are located at
more than 1,100 meters of altitude in the middle of large valleys, recently used to
create the artificial lakes called Cecita, Arvo, and Ampollino.
Particularly interesting appears to be a series of settlements, dating between
3800 and 3300 B.C. (end of the Neolithic – beginning of the Eneolithic), discovered
on the shores of the Cecita Lake, an artificial lake that in the year 1950 was created
exactly where a prehistoric lake had previously existed.
The undergoing archaeological excavations are uncovering one of these settlements
located in the Cecita Plain, a large plateau close to resort Spezzano della Sila
(Cosenza), between 1,130 and 1,140 meters of altitude. This settlement is strategically
located along one of the most important terrestrial transit routes connecting
the two coasts of Calabria, the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas.
The artifacts so far discovered include vases and tools made both of stone and
obsidian. The inhabitants of the ancient settlement produced these lithic tools in
situ, were expert agriculturists, raised cattle, hunted, and used the vast reserves of
wood available in the Sila mountains to build their huts.