Between the 9th and 15th of January 2007, a geophysical survey was undertaken at the site of Nero’s _Domus Aurea_. The work was carried out on behalf of the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Roma, and was conducted by the British School at Rome and the University of Southampton.
The geophysical survey over the _Domus Aurea_ was successful in locating a significant number of changes in deposits relating to archaeological deposits at the site. The undulating nature of the overburden and deposits covering the _Domus_ was clearly illustrated, with shallower overburden located to the northern side of the survey area and deeper overburden situated along the south part of the area, possibly relating to the erosion of deposits from the terrace, and repairs made to the terrace wall and subsequent backfilling. A significant depth of overburden is suggested close to the northern edge of the square cement cover situated in the park. In general the archaeological deposits at the site appear to be situated between 1.2m and 4m below the modern ground surface, although this varies considerably, with significant structural evidence visible in the eastern half of the survey, corresponding with the ground plan of the _Domus_, and in the eastern half of Grid 1-2, corresponding with the western side of the Domus. The survey also indicates the significant build up of paving, hard standing and modern infrastructure such as pipelines, over the entire surface of the park.
Media
Name
Domus Aurea
Year
2007
Summary
enBetween the 9th and 15th of January 2007, a geophysical survey was undertaken at the site of Nero’s _Domus Aurea_. The work was carried out on behalf of the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Roma, and was conducted by the British School at Rome and the University of Southampton.
The geophysical survey over the _Domus Aurea_ was successful in locating a significant number of changes in deposits relating to archaeological deposits at the site. The undulating nature of the overburden and deposits covering the _Domus_ was clearly illustrated, with shallower overburden located to the northern side of the survey area and deeper overburden situated along the south part of the area, possibly relating to the erosion of deposits from the terrace, and repairs made to the terrace wall and subsequent backfilling. A significant depth of overburden is suggested close to the northern edge of the square cement cover situated in the park. In general the archaeological deposits at the site appear to be situated between 1.2m and 4m below the modern ground surface, although this varies considerably, with significant structural evidence visible in the eastern half of the survey, corresponding with the ground plan of the _Domus_, and in the eastern half of Grid 1-2, corresponding with the western side of the Domus. The survey also indicates the significant build up of paving, hard standing and modern infrastructure such as pipelines, over the entire surface of the park.