The Harbor and Fishery Remains at Cosa, Italy

Abstract

AbstractThis article is a preecis of the publication of the excavations at the Roman port of Cosa in Italy now being prepared by the author and 21 specialists in various fields. The excavations were begun in 1968, following a survey in 1965 both on land and underwater. The port, presumably founded with the early Latin colony on the hill above in 273 B.C., is the earliest Roman harbor thus far known. The remains of the port are described along with its concrete masonry piers which probably date from the late 2nd or early 1st century B.C., supplying the earliest dated evidence for the use of tufo and pozzolana concrete in water.Some 250 m. behind the port across the sand dunes, lies an ancient fishing lagoon, now silted over. The excavations have revealed the earliest commercial Roman fishery thus far discovered, equipped with long fish tanks and a fresh water spring contained in a Spring House on its western embankment. The discovery within the house of the remains of a wooden water-lifting device known as...