Season Team

• AIAC_1142 - San Felice - 2004
  Between the 11th and 17th October 2004, a geophysical survey was undertaken at the site of San Felice by The Archaeological Prospection Services of Southampton and The British School at Rome on behalf of Hans vanderLeest of Mount Allison University, Canada. Taking into account the pronounced topography of the overall survey area, the narrow terrace forming part of the southern edge of the field appeared to be the most likely area for habitation. Indeed, the surface collection survey had already indicated that the dense scatters of material were derived from this area. With that in mind, the results from both the resistivity and magnetometer surveys indicate evidence of activity in this area. The resistivity survey produced a plan of possible structures based around a central open courtyard area. The disturbed results of the magnetometer survey, whilst not defining individual structures, did suggest activity in this portion of the field thus confirming expectations. The ephemeral traces of structures detected in the resistivity survey results made interpretation difficult. However it must be appreciated that the nature of the buried remains may not create strong responses and that the geology may mask archaeological features. The success of the magnetometer survey in detecting the remains of a kiln does suggest that the buildings are probably associated with this feature.
• AIAC_1901 - Santa Maria Capua Vetere - 2003
  In June 2003, a geophysical survey was undertaken at Santa Maria Capua Vetere near Piazza Padre Pio by the Archaeological Prospection Services of Southampton and the British School at Rome on behalf of Sig. M. Gravante. The survey was successful in locating and mapping a number of buried archaeological remains. Some of these remains can be associated with the structures excavated in the southeast corner of the field such as the continuations of walls, a small room and a possible road. A number of the other remains, mainly in the western part of the survey area, are oriented on a different alignment and could represent more recent structures. A series of anomalies can be identified as areas of burning possible within built oven or open fires. The survey area is littered with positive, negative and dipolar anomalies of varying size and these could represent modern disturbances.
• AIAC_2220 - Potentia - 2005
  In September 2004 and September/October 2005 a geophysical survey was undertaken at the site of the Roman colony of Potentia, Marche by the Archaeological Prospection Services of Southampton and The British School at Rome. The work was carried out on behalf of Prof. Frank Vermeulen of the University of Ghent, Flanders as part of the Potenza Valley Survey. The magnetometer survey revealed a comprehensive plan of the colony which complimented the interpretation of the aerial photographs. The extent of the road network was further unveiled and crucially was shown to extend to the town wall dividing up the territory into previously unknown insulae. Resistivity survey was employed over the area of the west gate with great success. The technique produced clear results undisturbed by the presence of materials that affected the magnetometer survey results. In many cases the magnetometer survey confirmed the findings of the aerial photography but in many other instances the survey revealed new and more detailed information on the layout and nature of the colony. Together with the resistivity survey results our understanding of the colony of Potentia is intensifying and developing.
• AIAC_28 - Madonna dei Colori - 2004
  In May 2004, a geophysical survey was undertaken at the site of the Roman villa of Bruttii Praesentes, Lazio by the Archaeological Prospection Services of Southampton and The British School at Rome. The work was carried out on behalf of Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali and Soprintendenza per i Beni archeologici del Lazio. Overall, the geophysical survey has begun to expose the extent and layout of the Roman villa at Monte Calvo. The excellent results indicate that the use of magnetometry was very successful in locating buried archaeological features and were complimented well by the resistivity survey. The geophysical survey has demonstrated that the Roman remains are substantial and that the villa of Bruttii Praesentes may be considered to be part of a much larger and extensive complex whose importance will have been enhanced by its proximity to the via Salaria.
• AIAC_291 - Sentinum - 2003
  Between 18th June and 2nd July 2003, a geophysical survey was carried out at the site of Sentinum, Marche in Italy. The survey revealed a comprehensive plan of the town although in some areas the underlying gravel geology may have masked the detection of some archaeological features. The nature of the features highlighted by the magnetometer survey was diverse ranging from the identification of the town forum to small private residences. The mapping of the road network was a success and it was a revelation that the grid system identified in the survey did not wholly conform to the projected layout in the area to the west.
• AIAC_62 - Otricoli - 2005
  A new understanding of the overall layout and development of Ocriculum (modern Otricoli) is gradually emerging through the combination of results from the different methods used including topography, magnetometry, resistivity, GPR and surface collection. It now seems clear that the centre of Ocriculum was built on the ridge overlooking the Tiber sometime during the Republican period. The extent of the site on the ridge and the character of its surface finds suggest that it developed to become a significant urban focus by the early Imperial period. There is little evidence for the formal planning of the core of the site, and our survey has not identified a street layout. Where the via Flaminia cuts across the ridge, the magnetometer survey suggests that it may have passed through a large rectangular space defined by major terrace walls to the east and west. To the east the ridge rises with a terrace defined to the south and west by a major wall of late Roman date which dominated the topography of the later town and presumably defined its extent. To the north, the major remains can now be clearly understood as a temple precinct, built to be visible on the cliff. Along the southern side of the ridge the survey indicates that there were a series of buildings built above the stream and probably predating the Late Roman wall. To the west, the theatre dominated the southern side of the ridge and must have opened onto a terrace on the valley slope below before the valley was infilled. Deeply buried structures suggest the presence of a porticus behind the scena frons. The survey confirms the presence of a number of richly decorated buildings along the northern edge of the ridge. The infilling of the valley between the settlement on the ridge and the amphitheatre must be associated with the construction of the baths. Survey has shown that the infilled valley was not extensively built upon. At either end of it major structures survive, including what are apparently very large cisterns, presumably designed to supply the baths.