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This article presents an analysis that is being carried out within the framework of the 'Tetrastylon project' (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellowship). This project is designed to create the scientific basis for the identification and definition of a new type of Roman domus. This typological item is the result of the hybridisation of a house scheme drawn from the Greek and Roman conceptions of housing. In the recent decades, some studies have found a particular type of Roman house in different parts of the Empire. The structural scheme of this domus joins, in the first place, the developmental concept of the Greek dwelling with the use of the Roman atrium as the central distribution area of the house. As a result of this cultural symbiosis, it is possible to observe Roman distribution areas within housing built following Greek structural conceptions and the combination of very different architectural influences between both cultures. The house, tentatively termed 'the tetrastyle courtyard house', has been observed in different Roman cities with a Greek past, but in different geographical contexts and chronologies. This type of house, with its variants, has not been sufficiently analysed in the Roman domestic architecture studies. This article will present different examples of this type of house within the territorial context of ancient Magna Graecia under the influence of the Roman dominion. This approach will show the same exchanges between the Greeks and the Romans in the East, but from the western perspective and at an earlier chronological stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A re-evaluation of the stone types and brick fabrics present in the surviving Roman and medieval fabric of the Wardrobe Tower and its adjoining structures, situated within the Tower of London, has revealed a considerable variety of construction materials including reused and imported stonework. Analysis of the construction materials used in the late 2nd- or early 3rd-century AD Roman city wall adjoining the Wardrobe Tower shows a programme of works largely based on the supply of geo-materials from the Medway Valley. The external plinth at the base of the city wall here consisted of Middle Jurassic Lincolnshire Limestones. An area of Roman fabric from the mid-4th-century AD Bastion B1, identified for the first time within the inner elevation of the Wardrobe Tower, included recycled blocks of Bibury freestone. Re-examination of the later phase of the Roman riverside wall (AD 390s) has confirmed that it contains a wide variety of reused monumental masonry, including Purbeck marble, Taynton stone, Bibury stone and Barnack stone. Detailed petrological study has for the first time identified Ancaster freestone. Recycled in the medieval fabric of the Wardrobe Tower are monumental blocks of the distinctive French Limestone Calcaire Grossier from the Paris Basin. It is significant that this material had only previously been identified from the British Isles in Roman monumental structures along the south coast; specifically at Rich-borough and Fishbourne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals primarily with the results of archaeological work carried out in 2013, but also includes earlier fieldwork carried out as part of an evaluation and watching brief in 2007. Initial Roman activity included quarrying and ditch digging. During the late Neronian—early Flavian period (c.ad 65—80) three clay and timber buildings were constructed, one of which contained an oven. These buildings and associated open areas remained in use, probably until the end of the early Antonine period (c.ad 160). A large ditch, possibly a boundary associated with these properties, was backfilled prior to the construction of a fourth clay and timber building. Few late Roman features survived but traces of at least one masonry building and two open areas might suggest that occupation became less dense after c.ad 250. A small number of Saxo-Norman features included rubbish pits and a cesspit. A barrel-lined well went out of use in the period c.1050—1150. The bulk of the medieval activity dated from the 13th/14th centuries and included many pits and a large barrel-lined well. Remains of several masonry-lined cesspits were found, two of which remained in use until the late 15th or 16th century. Much of the medieval assemblage derives from domestic pitting and relates to discrete rubbish disposal episodes during the mid- to late 13th century. Towards the north-eastern corner of the site, a single medieval building was probably demolished during the late 13th century. The site sequence was truncated by deep modern basements and therefore post-medieval features were scarce, surviving examples included brick or masonry-lined cesspits and wells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Thiasos is the property of Edizioni Quasar di Severino Tognon s.r.l. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Great Mosque of Damascus was built between 705 and 715 by the Umayyad Caliph al-Walid I. However, the origins of this building dates to the distant past. At first it was a location of an ancient Aramaean temple dedicated to the god Hadad. With Hellenization the temple was dedicated to Zeus and in the first century BC the Romans transformation it into the Temple of Jupiter Damascenus. In 391 Emperor Theodosius converted the temple into Christian Cathedral of Saint John. Erection of the mosque by Caliph al-Walid I was under strong influence of earlier constructions. Meaning and consequences of such transitions, from the Roman temple (there is almost no data of the Aramaic building) through the Christian Cathedral to the Islamic mosque is an interesting process. Issue not only within the art and architecture, but what is more, in a religious aspect of the continuity of sacred space.

A arquitectura das villae foi cuidadosamente pensada para permitir o máximo desfrute de uma vivência de gosto urbano e cosmopolita. A atenção dada à inserção da construção na paisagem, as soluções para harmonizar o espaço exterior criando atmosferas favoráveis, a contemplação para o exterior e a criação de espaços e ambientes construídos que permitissem potenciar o otium e o convivium são discutidos neste trabalho, com exemplos de sítios no Alto Alentejo.Roman villae were carefully designed to fulfil the urban and cosmopolitan way of living. Considering some archaeological sites in Alto Alentejo (Portugal), one intends to discuss the adjustment of the built structure to the landscape, the creation of chosen atmospheres by modelling the outer space, the countryside contemplation and the creation of spaces and indoor environments that would promote otium and convivium.

In the framework of the archeological investigations of an outstanding Roman Villas in Tuscany (Villa dell'Oratorio, in the territory of Capraia e Limite, Florence), archaeometric studies have been perfomed with the aim to characterize building and decorative materials and retrace construction phases and manufacture technology. The Villas, built in the middle of the 4th century, includes a hexagonal structure, about 30 meters in diameter, decorated with painted wall plasters and beautiful figurative floor mosaics. The structure is equipped with apsed rooms (at least 5), exhibiting similarity with some monumental triclinia of Constantinople and Rome. Archaeometric analyses have been carried out on mortars, stones and vitreous tesserae, with the aim to identify the raw materials and support the archaeological investigation about cultural models and economic status of the aristocratic owner in the Late Roman Tuscany. Mortars samples from different building units of the Villas have been studied through minero-petrographic and thermogravimetric methods. Stone tesserae have been analyzed by minero-petrographic and sedimentologic methods, to obtain information on the provenance of the raw materials used. Finally, Raman spectroscopy and SEM-EDS analyses have been performed on vitreous tesserae, to obtain information on colouring and opaquening agents. The studies carried out on the building elements suggested that, in spite of iconographic and architectural models proper of the great Mediterranean villae, local and spolia raw materials were used in this great construction work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred and eleven samples from the important Servilia Roman tomb have been analysed for the first time by Raman spectroscopy, resulting in a complete characterisation of the pigment palette used for its remarkable wall paintings: 73 different pigment mixtures have been identified for the composition of its 11 colours and their tonalities. Dyer’s weld, an ancient organic yellow pigment, which was described by Vitruvius, has been identified and characterised for the first time in Roman wall paintings. Distinctive Raman spectroscopic signals which differentiate between haematite and caput mortuum (a violet colour from haematite which has been subjected to thermal treatment) are also reported. The use of the very expensive lazurite for a balance relates the importance of this otherwise ordinary instrument with psychostasia (the human soul weighing process) and is not found elsewhere in the tomb. The distribution of white minerals alone or in admixture is not related to any particular colouring pigment or figure; this possibly indicates that there was no specific use for each white mineral and that several craftsmen worked on the paintings, perhaps in different periods, or that the frescoes have been subjected to unrecorded restoration. We conclude that Raman spectroscopy is a valuable analytical technique for the unambiguous identification of mixtures of both organic and inorganic compounds, to study the degree of mineral crystallinity and for identifying treatment. These data are relevant for the holistic interpretation of the artwork in its historical, economical and social context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to characterize the original concrete from Roman buildings for public spectacles, theatre and amphitheatre, from Emerita Augusta, Mérida, Spain. An advanced knowledge of the Roman concrete composition is required for a reliable restoration and preservation of these ancient monuments. The concrete was studied through mineralogical (optical polarized microscopy and X-ray diffraction) and petrophysical (bulk and real density, open porosity to water and Hg, mechanical strength and ultrasonic velocity) analyses. With this work, it is possible to fill the gap that exists in this field and the characterization of the materials used in the Roman concrete from these two buildings, never previously studied, despite the significance of this archaeological ensemble, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. The results allowed us to determine the composition of the Roman concrete and to infer the provenance of the aggregates used in these monuments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work presented in this article is part of a wide-ranging and ambitious project, started few years ago, to study the role of astronomy in Roman urban layout. In particular, the main aim is to check whether Roman cities present astronomical patterns in their orientations. The project emerged from ideas on how to properly orientate the main streets of a Roman town, as attested in a number of ancient texts and later discussions led by contemporary scholars. We present here the final conclusions of a particular study developed in the Iberian Peninsula (Roman Hispania), where the urbanism that we tend to characterize as properly Roman flourished during both the Republic and the Empire. The sample analysed includes 81 measurements of Roman urban entities spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula and is the largest dataset obtained in a specific region so far. Our results present suggestive orientation patterns that seem to point towards an astronomical intentionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the instructive character present in the Forum of Augustus, one of the principal constructions undertaken by the Princeps Octavius Augustus at the end of the first century BC. From the studies about archaeological remains and written sources, we aim to analyze the main characteristics and particularities of this Forum and to what extent it constituted a place of memory, aiding in the perpetuation of a history of Rome recreated by Augustus and his support group, in which the Princeps stood out as the legitimate continuator of this history and the greatest example to be emulated; in such a way that the Forum of Augustus provided a true lesson in Roman history, materializing in stone this glorious past, of which Augustus was placed as a descendant and continuator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zephyrus is the property of Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With a half-round plan and high podium the Temple "P" in Side, Pamphylia had been discovered more than a century ago and partially investigated after its excavation half a century later. A new study was launched in 2013 in order to re-examine the historical structure, dedication and architecture, which had not yet been definitively determined. This research determined that the bust on the front façade of the entirely existent one of the two tympanums at the monumental entrance of the temple, which was evidential of the dedication of the temple to the God Men, was not in fact a "man head" as it was claimed, but portrayed a woman along with Demeter's attributes; perhaps Kore, the daughter of the goddess of abundance. Through archaeological and historical building research on site new information regarding the functionality of the temple, as well as the caving and bulging architecture of the monumental entrance structure was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alabastro listato or fiorito of Hierapolis in Phrygia was a prestigious coloured marble widely used in Roman architecture and decoration. This stone is generally identified in artefacts on autoptic examination, but it may sometimes be confused with alabasters of different provenances. This study describes a simple, but effective, scientific method to contribute to the determination of Hierapolis alabaster. Due to its unique genetic context, it is characterized by a distinctive carbon isotope signature. A comparison between the stable carbon isotope data from this paper and from the literature confirms the uniqueness of the isotopic character of Hierapolis alabaster. Carbon isotopes can ensure a reliably provenance attribution of the alabaster artefacts along with visual recognition by an expert eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological excavations combined with antiquarian observations shed considerable light on the evolution of Roman Carlisle. From being a fort in the northern advance under Cerialis and Agricola, Carlisle developed as a nodal hub supported by a number of activity 'zones'. By the early third century most had become absorbed into the newly created civitas capital. The Roman town declined and stone buildings became ruinous, a process that probably commenced before the fourth century and continued until the land was taken over by the kings of Northumbria and the church in the seventh century. Scanty archaeological records for the sub- and post-Roman periods are supplemented by implications for socio-political structures drawn from texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution illustrates the result of years of research carried out by the Department of Architecture of Roma Tre on the virtual reconstruction of the Alessandrino district demolished in favor of Via dell'Impero in the 1930s. The search for archival documents, the digitization, the reconstruction of a highly detailed virtual model, the search for sources and historical photographs, all come together in the effort to create a wood model for the Museum of Rome, thanks to continued cultural relations with the Capitoline Superintendency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the findings of archaeological excavations of the Early Christian basilicas in Cimitile, Italy. It highlights the deepening of the topic of working on an area located in a raised position compared to the current level of the basilicas after having realized limited interventions to improve accessibility along access axes to basilicas.

Additional information about the Romano-British villa at Woodham's Farm was discovered whilst researching the villas at Sparsholt and Twyford. Amongst the Sparsholt material held by the late David Johnston was an envelope containing coins from Woodham's Farm. Similarly, amongst the Twyford paper archive held by Martin Biddle was a letter from Mr. W. H. Blake of Woodham's Farm to Lieut. Colonel Montague dated 14th September 1925. The letter briefly described his excavation of the site and contains a sketch of the exposed ground plan of parts of the villa. This short report is based on the information held by Winchester Museum Services (History File ARCH 296). It documents the discoveries found and attempts to put the Romano-British Villa at Woodham's Farm into a regional context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bucolic sarcophagi, being the most popular genre of figurai sarcophagi, occupy a central place in the history of Roman archaeology and art. But what did their imagery actually reference, and what was its allure? For traction this article proposes that we 'listen to the silences' in the imagery, paying attention to what Is absent as well as present. Why, for example, were pastoral scenes so much more popular than agricultural ones? And why are there so very many with sheep - but so few with cattle? Focusing on these lacunae, I demonstrate, helps us to better reconstruct the valence that these objects possessed In the Roman visual Imagination. In more concrete terms, this allows us to (t) gain a richer understanding of why bucolic motifs were so often combined with 'philosopher' imagery; and (2) address the extent to which the bucolic sarcophagi did or did not target the interests of specific political classes (with ramifications for understanding who bought them). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cartagine. Studi e Ricerche is the property of Cartagine. Studi e Ricerche and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Il progetto di rilievo, scavo, studio e valorizzazione del teatro romano di Althiburos (El Kef, Tunisia) vede coinvolti l’Institut National du Patrimoine, l’Università di Macerata ed il Politecnico di Bari. Nelle tre campagne sinora svolte è stato iniziato il programma di rilievo del monumento e catalogo degli elementi architettonici e sono stati iniziati alcuni saggi stratigrafici che hanno permesso di indagare le fasi più tarde della vita dell’edificio, da quando cioè, in età bizantina, il teatro venne trasformato in fortezza sino all’età moderna. Il progetto della missione congiunta tunisino-italiana prevede di riprendere quest’anno lo studio del monumento e del materiale già scavato e di continuare nei prossimi anni la ricerca sul campo per la valorizzazione del monumento e del sito.

The roman necropolises of the Cilicia Trachea represent an interesting case study for the investigation of archaeological heritage and its transformation. Since the nineteenth century explorations, in fact, there is confirmations of how such systems of buildings have undergone profound changes, adapting to the needs of local populations. The article aims to analyze the contemporary conditions of conservation of such structures, in order to define how such this transformation, does not concern only the past but still pursues today. To confirm this theory the essay will be focused mainly on the Cilicia Trachea and Lycia necropolises, with particular mention to the northeastern necropolis of Elaiussa Sebaste. This reality will show different constructional and architectural types of funerary buildings, in order to achieve a more complete perception of the cultural and archaeological landscape of the area.

Virtual models' production is of high pertinence in research and business fields such as architecture, archeology, or video games, whose requirements might range between expeditious virtual building generation for extensively populating computer-based synthesized environments and hypothesis testing through digital reconstructions. There are some known approaches to achieve the production/reconstruction of virtual models, namely digital settlements and buildings. Manual modeling requires highly-skilled manpower and a considerable amount of time to achieve the desired digital contents, in a process composed by many stages that are typically repeated over time. Both image-based and range scanning approaches are more suitable for digital preservation of well-conserved structures. However, they usually require trained human resources to prepare field operations and manipulate expensive equipment (e.g., 3D scanners) and advanced software tools (e.g., photogrammetric applications). To tackle the issues presented by previous approaches, a class of cost-effective, efficient, and scarce-data-tolerant techniques/methods, known as procedural modeling, has been developed aiming at the semi- or fully-automatic production of virtual environments composed of hollow buildings exclusively represented by outer façades or traversable buildings with interiors, either for expeditious generation or reconstruction. Despite the many achievements of the existing procedural modeling approaches, the production of virtual buildings with both interiors and exteriors composed by non-rectangular shapes (convex or concave n-gons) at the floor-plan level is still seldomly addressed. Therefore, a methodology (and respective system) capable of semi-automatically producing ontology-based traversable buildings composed of arbitrarily-shaped floor-plans has been proposed and continuously developed, and is under analysis in this paper, along with its contributions towards the accomplishment of other virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) projects/works oriented to digital applications for cultural heritage. Recent roof production-related enhancements resorting to the well-established straight skeleton approach are also addressed, as well as forthcoming challenges. The aim is to consolidate this procedural modeling methodology as a valuable computer graphics work and discuss its future~directions.