Publications
Evoluzione Urbana e Cambiamenti Ambientali nel Settore Occidentale della Colonia di Aquileia
A complex, non-linear interplay between urban development and environmental change is revealed in the western sector of the Latin colony of Aquileia. The study demonstrates that specific construction choices and patterns of urban growth escalated environmental transformations, while also highlighting adaptive and mitigation strategies employed by its inhabitants. Fresh archaeological and environmental data, including fill layers from sewer systems and the Roman theatre, along with new mechanical corings from the Canale Anfora—a critical hydraulic infrastructure—were integrated with radiometric analyses to establish a precise chronological framework. This approach uncovers nuanced dynamics that challenge linear narratives of urban and natural landscape evolution.
La lunga durata dell’acqua. Lettura integrata del territorio lagunare altoadriatico come chiave per il futuro del patrimonio culturale di Aquileia
A diachronic reconstruction of the Upper Adriatic and Aquileia territory reveals the dynamic co-evolutionary interaction between settlement systems and the lagoon environment, providing a methodological foundation for future cultural heritage projects. This study employs multidisciplinary methods of global landscape archaeology to analyze stratigraphic data across the entire geographical area, highlighting transformative and continuity phases over an extended period. The findings aim to integrate Aquileia's urban archaeological heritage with its surrounding lagoon territory, offering a narrative that contextualizes fragmentary traces within a broader territorial discourse. This approach supports the future development of territories and communities through the construction of new landscapes.
North-eastern Italy in the early Carolingian period
The study reveals how the Carolingian dynasty strategically integrated northeastern Italy, particularly the duchy of Friuli, into their empire during the late 8th and early 9th centuries. By leveraging Frankish administrative structures and a loyal northern elite, they consolidated power while maintaining existing Lombard military fortifications. The research highlights the pivotal role of churches in Aquileia and Grado as tools for political control, extending influence over Istria and Dalmatia. Archaeological evidence, including restored castra, church burials, and funerary inscriptions, demonstrates the emergence of a new landowning elite and the continuity of late Roman military infrastructure under Carolingian rule. This interdisciplinary approach combines archaeology and art history to illustrate the social and political transformations that solidified Carolingian dominance in the region.
The Claustra Alpium Iuliarum System: Surveillance and Defence of the Empire in Late Antiquity
Recent archaeological research has significantly advanced understanding of the Claustra Alpium Iuliarum, a vast and complex Late Antique defensive system spanning 130 km across Croatia and Slovenia. This system, leveraging natural geomorphology to control key passages between Illyricum and northeast Italy, was found to effectively direct traffic towards major controlled routes such as Tarsatica (Rijeka)—Tergeste (Trieste)—Aquileia, Emona (Ljubljana)—Tergeste, and Emona—Aquileia. The study employed a combination of non-destructive documentation methods and traditional archaeology to navigate the system's large area and dense vegetation, revealing intricate details about its organization and function.
Alpine Connections
Aquileia, a Latin colony in northeastern Italy, emerged as the pivotal hub for Roman cultural and economic influence over Noricum, predating Rome's direct annexation. This study reveals that Aquileia's strategic position fostered deep pre-Roman exchanges with Noricum, shaping its political, economic, and cultural trajectory from early interactions to the Severan period. By analyzing epigraphic and archaeological records, the research highlights Noricum's role as a resource-rich frontier, facilitating trade, military distribution, religious syncretism, and artistic influences. The findings underscore Aquileia's transformative impact on local governance, business, and public service, offering new perspectives on provincial life in the Roman Empire.
CLARA Review: J. Bonetto, G. Furlan, C. Previato, A.R. Ghiotto, E. Madrigali & V. Centola (eds) Scavi di Aquileia II. Aquileia fondi Cossar. 2. La domus di Tito Macro e le mura, vols. I, II and III. Rome: Edizioni Quasar 2024
Recent volumes of the 'Scavi di Aquileia' series, published in 2024, present significant findings from fifteen years of archaeological research at the Cossar plot in Aquileia, an Imperial Period residential area. These volumes, edited by Jacopo Bonetto and others, include detailed analyses of the domus of Tito Macro and the city's walls, building upon earlier studies dating back to 1870. The series, supported by the University of Padua and the Aquileia Foundation, consolidates archival documents, numismatic findings, and a comprehensive study of cooking pottery, offering new insights into the urban development and material culture of ancient Aquileia.
Roman urban landscape
A comprehensive analysis of Roman urban landscapes across Caput Adriae, Noricum, and Pannoniae reveals the intricate development and integration of towns and settlements into broader imperial networks. The study, featuring contributions from 54 authors across eight countries, highlights how systematic geophysical surveys, combined with aerial photography, LiDAR imaging, surface surveys, and archaeological excavations, have uncovered extensive data on ancient urban structures—particularly in unbuilt areas. In densely developed regions, meticulous mapping of archaeological evidence has yielded rich insights over decades. The research underscores the significance of these settlements as a nexus between the eastern and western Roman Empire, bridging Mediterranean, Alpine, and Continental worlds, offering new perspectives on imperial urbanization.
Il patriarcato di Aquileia: Identità, liturgia e arte (secoli (V-XV) ed. by Zuleika Murat and Paolo Vedovetto (review)
A distinctive religious and cultural identity shaped by liturgical practices, jurisdictional ties, and artistic expressions characterized the Patriarchate of Aquileia from the 5th to 15th centuries. This edited volume, reviewed by Thomas Dale, reveals how shared linguistic, religious, and devotional values, along with communal customs, unified diverse ethnicities under the patriarch's rule. The study explores the patriarchate's metropolitan authority, its rivalry with Venice, and its influence on regional identities, particularly in Friuli, Veneto, Istria, and beyond. Archival sources and liturgical commentaries from Aquileia and Pannonia highlight unique ritual practices, such as foot washing at baptism and an emphasis on Christ's descent into hell, which distinguished its theology. Additionally, the volume examines artistic elements, including carved reliefs, frescoes, and sculptures, that reinforced the patriarchate's status and rivalry with other ecclesiastical centers like Venice and Grado.
Three-Dimensional Modeling and Non-Invasive Diagnosis of a Huge and Complex Heritage Building: The Patriarchal Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta in Aquileia (Udine, Italy)
A comprehensive multi-methodological approach has successfully generated accurate documentation and realistic representations of the complex Patriarchal Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta in Aquileia, Italy. This 2000-year-old structure, with its layered architectural history, posed significant challenges due to inadequate or outdated documentation. The study integrated ground-penetrating radar (GPR), topographic surveys, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), and structure for motion (SfM) photogrammetry to non-invasively diagnose the basilica's internal and external structures. This integrated methodology provided critical data for assessing seismic vulnerability and planning conservation interventions, addressing gaps in previous documentation and offering a robust framework for heritage preservation.
Aquileia’s market spaces
Archaeological investigations at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aquileia reveal significant commercial spaces dating back to Late Antiquity, providing new insights into the diachronic transformation of urban markets. The study, conducted by the University of Verona since 2018 in the southeastern sector of Aquileia, builds on earlier 20th-century excavations that had already identified commercial areas. This research contributes to a broader understanding of how market spaces evolved over time in Roman cities, particularly along the Adriatic coast.
Optimised Extraction of Archaeological Features from Full 3-D GPR Data
Advanced ground penetrating radar (GPR) techniques, when combined with high-resolution photogrammetry and unmanned aerial vehicle surveys, significantly enhance the identification and characterization of buried archaeological structures. A study conducted at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Aquileia, Italy, demonstrated that dense, accurate GPR data collection and sophisticated signal processing—particularly using amplitude-based and coherence attributes—can effectively map complex archaeological features. The research also evaluated autopicking procedures for isosurface mapping, which proved crucial in guiding archaeologists to excavate previously unselected areas. These findings not only contributed to the understanding of Aquileia's historical events but also underscored the potential of integrating multi-sensor data for non-invasive archaeological research.
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