Rome Research Articles

A destruição dos restos da destruição: Pompeia e Herculano no Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro

Belonging to the Teresa Cristina Collection, pieces from Pompeii and Herculaneum were part of the permanent exhibition at the National Museum when the institution was destroyed by a devastating fire in September 2018. Those material remains of Roman cities buried by Vesuvius in 79 CE - frescoes, bronze jewelry, amulets, glass, lamps, and other objects of everyday life - remained under thick layers of eruptive material for almost two thousand years. Rescued in successive archeological excavations throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and, finally, made into a museum, they returned to the ashes, this time from fire. The history of the formation of this collection is linked to the second reign by close political links. Thus, what we intend to do is look at the long trajectory of these pieces, seeking to examine the symbolic uses to which they were subject in nineteenth-century Rio de Janeiro.

Regenerative and innovative processes in the urban and peri-urban area of the city of Rome

Rome stands out for a fragility that stems from the disordered interpenetration of its rural soul with its urban agglomeration. The relationship between city and suburbs still appears complicated today and reverberates on the degree of social cohesion of its inhabitants. Bottom-up experimentation projects are being grafted into the extended area of the capital, reviving disused public property, abandoned land, to eliminate degradation especially in fragile contexts, developing regenerative processes of active citizenship. The purpose of the paper is to underline innovative experiences, in the urban and peri-urban area of Rome, pointing out their actions aimed at sharing common values, developing territorial welfare and protecting the environment.

Old cities, new pathways: approaches to Roman urbanism in Italy

Throughout the twentieth century, considerable research has been dedicated to understanding the rise, development and end of ancient cities. In recent years, there has been a remarkable upsurge of new methodological and theoretical approaches applied in urbanism studies, which enables us to improve, validate or question our knowledge about ancient urban life. The three books reviewed here concern the development, transformation and experience of ancient Roman cities; leading experts in urban history and archaeology discussing the potential of new technologies and conceptual frameworks for analysing Roman urban space.

Palaeoenvironmental evolution and decline of the harbours of the Roman and Early Byzantine city of Elaiussa Sebaste (southeastern Turkey): natural and anthropic causes

ABSTRACTThe ancient city of Elaiussa Sebaste, currently Ayaş, is located on the southeastern coast of Turkey. It was one of the main trading Mediterranean harbours from the Augustan period until the early Byzantine era. The Arab invasion in the 7th century ce marked its definitive abandonment. A significant historical topic concerns the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the northern and southern harbours of Elaiussa Sebaste, including their decline and burial. An interdisciplinary study analysed six cores drilled in the current plains corresponding to the former harbour basins. A geoelectrical study, integrated with borehole stratigraphy, reconstructed the geometry of the carbonate bedrock that forms the accumulation base of the marine sediments. Sediments deposited from the 8th century bce to the 6th century ce include the development phases of the ancient city from the 3rd century bce onwards. Sedimentology, micropalaeontology (foraminifers, ostracods), palaeobotany (pollen, non‐pollen palynomorphs, microcharcoals, plant macroremains) and Pb isotopes provided a model of the environmental evolution in both harbour basins. The main harbour expansion phase, marked by a change in Pb concentration, is hypothesized to have occurred between 140 and 220 ce, which is consistent with the historical sources indicating the development of the city during the mid‐Roman Imperial period.

Delineation of Groundwater Potential Zones Using Geospatial Techniques. Case Study: Roman City and the Surrounding Area in the Northeastern Region, Romania

Effective groundwater management is crucial under the current climatic conditions, addressing both qualitative and quantitative aspects. An important step in delineating groundwater potential zones involves remote sensing (RS) data and geographic information systems (GISs), facilitating resource assessment, and the implementation of suitable field data management. This study introduces the delineation of potential groundwater zones using seven layers and the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) method. Satty’s Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to rank the seven selected parameters, contributing to the advancement of groundwater research and resource assessment. All seven thematic layers (Rainfall, Geology, Land Use/Land Cover, Drainage Density, Elevation, Slope, and Soil) were prepared and analyzed to delineate groundwater potential zones. The resulting groundwater potential zone map was categorized into four classes, Very Good, Good, Moderate, and Poor, covering areas of 81.53 km2 (45.1%), 56.36 km2 (31.2%), 19.54 km2 (10.8%), and 23.17 km2 (12.8%) of the total area, respectively. The accuracy of the output was validated by comparing it with information on groundwater prospects in the area, and the overall accuracy of the method was approximately 72%. High-yield boreholes were drilled and concentrated in the Very Good groundwater potential zones, while low-yield ones were developed in the Poor areas.

Is It Possible to Establish an Economic Trend Correlating Territorial Assessment Indicators and Earth Observation? A Critical Analysis of the Pandemic Impact in an Italian Region

The paper is set within the methodological framework of the Territorial Impact Assessment (TIA) process, which is an instrument designed to facilitate sustainable and cohesive policy-making choices at the European level. The article is developed within the context of a European H2020-RICE cooperative project, which utilises the STeMA (Sustainable Territorial Economic/Environmental Management Approach) TIA methodology to investigate the potential relationship between statistical economic indicators, specifically Gross Domestic Product, and related parameters (metadata), and Earth Observation (EO) data. The objective is to provide evidence of socioeconomic trends during the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic in the Lazio Region (Italy), with a particular focus on the metropolitan area of the Rome capital city Rome. In line with the pertinent European context and the scientific literature on the subject, the paper examines the potential for combining classical and Earth observation indicators to assess macroeconomic dimensions of development, specifically in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). The results of the analysis indicate the presence of certain correlations between grey data and EO information. The STeMA-TIA approach allows for the measurement and correlation of both qualitative and quantitative statistical indicators with typological functional areas (in accordance with European Commission-EC and Committee of Ministers responsible for Spatial/Regional Planning—CEMAT guidance) at the NUTS (Nomenclature des unités territoriales statistiques) 2 and 3 levels. This facilitates the territorialisation of information, enabling the indirect comparison of data with satellite data and economic trends. A time series of data was gathered and organised for the purpose of facilitating comparison between different periods, beginning with 2019 and extending to the present day. In order to measure and monitor the evolution of the selected territorial economies (the Lazio Region), a synthetic index (or composite indicator) was developed in the economic and epidemic dimensions. This index combines single values of indicators according to a specific STeMA methodology. It is important to note that there are some critical observations to be made about the impact on GDP, due to the discrepancy between the indicators in the two fields of observation.

Oral Health Epidemiological Investigation in an Urban Homeless Population.

The purpose of this clinical epidemiological investigation was to examine the oral health conditions of homeless people in the city of Rome, Italy. A total of 157 homeless subjects were subjected to a first dental visit, during which anamnestic information was recorded in a digital medical record. A diagnosis of dental disorders was performed by assessing oral hygiene conditions, periodontal health, the presence of caries and/or root residues, and the presence of partial and/or total edentulousness. Caries and missing teeth were evaluated by the DMFT index. The first major criticality was represented by poor or absent oral hygiene. The examined sample showed a major percentage of high DMFT (63.0%); the most common clinical condition was the presence of numerous root residues. Regarding periodontal health, 73.2% of patients had gingivitis, 21.6% periodontitis, while 11 patients had periodontal pathologies with tooth mobility (7%). Finally, 8.9% of patients had one or two missing elements, 22.9% had partial edentulousness, and 8.9% of the sample had total edentulism. This analysis provides an important basis for strengthening health promotion and the importance of accessible and effective care for this population. It will therefore be necessary to continue to adopt a patient-centered approach geared towards addressing the demands that this population faces in maintaining their oral health.

Data collecting for conservation project of Aurelian Walls of Rome – sector G20-21

Abstract Rome is one of the most sustainable cities. Aurelian Walls is part of the city, still used to this day even though it has changed functions. This important monument marks the territorial boundary and also served as a defensive wall from the third century until the fall of Western Rome. According to (Lanciani, 1892), the length of the entire circuit reached 18.837 m, or a bit more than 19 km surrounding the city of Rome and is divided into several sectors (Richmond, 2013). Each sector contains several square shape towers in every 100 Roman feet. Some of these sectors have been modified, damaged or destroyed. Including G sector, tower number 20-21, in where the research conducted. The aim of this study is to understand the principles of conservation in this monument that provides insight into conservation techniques and an overview of the sustainable maintenance of historic structures. Investigating the history and chronology of the construction with literature relating to the historical building, monument and site, is a method used coupled with direct observation and measurements. The results of direct observations are then redrawn and compiled in an observation document. This document provides an overview of the damage and architectural dimensions of the monument. This data becomes a reference for what steps need to be taken at the next stage. Conservation projects require critical evaluation before intervention is carried out.

Guardians of the aquifers: ehancing Rome’s groundwater monitoring network

This paper proposes a methodology for managing groundwater monitoring directly in the field through a specific data entry system installed on mobile devices and a relational geographic database that allows the visualization and querying of data via a specific web interface. The study area is the city of Rome, where a monitoring system of approximately 150 piezometers and wells, currently manually monitored twice a year. The proposed method uses the Enterprise cloud platform (ESRI, 2024) managed by ISPRA-SNPA, which guarantees the repository of the data collected in an online cloud system and the use of Web applications. The data of the time series of levels and chemical-physical parameters such as temperature, pH, conductivity are freely accessible through attribute tables, graphs, and viewer elements. The results highlight numerous possibilities for expanding the network of active wells, enabling the use of groundwater resources for adaptation measures to address ongoing climate change.

Bronze casting in Late Antiquity in the Marche Region

This essay reviews the discovery of three sites where deposits of bronze fragments have been found, in the Roman cities of Pisaurum, Sentinum and Potentia. Each site yielded small bronze fragments and some tools, which lead us to suppose that these were sites of Late Antique foundries, where large bronze statues and other bronze objects were broken up to be remelted. The foundries were located on land previously occupied by taverns in the forum area or by residential quarters. This means that the urban plan of the cities had already been partially transformed, probably due to Christianisation and the construction of churches, which became the new community centres, to the detriment of the older areas of the forum. The rampant poverty and shortage of raw materials, especially metals, made foundries indispensable and, consequently, their widespread presence, even within the cities, probably became customary. Perhaps the numerous bronze fragments found in other centres of the region should also be interpreted in this same sense, as indications of foundries, even if the structures where the metal was worked have not been preserved.

High resolution paleo-hydrological record from carbonate deposits in the Roman aqueduct of Traconnade (Aix-en-Provence, SE France)

Carbonate deposits in aqueducts are potential valuable archives of the paleo-hydrological record for the Roman period. Here we present a new high-resolution record from carbonate deposits in the aqueduct of Traconnade built for Aix-en-Provence, the Roman city of Aquae Sextiae. As its name indicates, Aquae Sextiae was built around an abundant source of water but its development, like other ancient cities, required good management of this resource. Through a combination of micromilling and in situ analysis (LA–MC–ICPMS) on thin sections, we measured geochemical variations (stable isotopes and trace elements) and performed sampling for absolute UTh dating. Geochronological results based on classical correction and isochron along with archaeological observations confirm that the carbonate concretion was deposited in Roman times on the walls of the Traconnade aqueduct, built no later than 140 CE. Carbonate δ18O records document the presence of clear geochemical cycles that were mainly controlled by seasonal variations in temperature and δ18O from water circulating in the aqueduct. Minima and maxima in δ18O values were attributed to summer and winter conditions, respectively in agreement with the modern spring’s stable isotope values. The other tracers (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca and δ13C) also show marked cyclicities with maximum values occurring in summer. The enrichment in trace elements and δ13C were linked to processes occurring during dry periods (1) prior precipitation of calcite in the epikarst, and/or (2) a greater degree of CO2 degassing. The geochemical variations in Ba/Ca, U/Ca and Rb/Ca behave differently and their co-variations may reflect the water-rock interactions in the karst system. We highlight that these tracers can be used as a proxy for intense precipitation events, occurring frequently during autumn. The Traconnade aqueduct carbonate provides sufficient temporal resolution to explore environmental variations on a seasonal scale. These results suggest the occurrence of a double rainy season (spring and autumn) in the Aix-en-Provence region, similar to present-day climatic conditions. Our study confirms the high potential of aqueduct concretions for paleohydrological studies.

Circular Economy: A Network Analysis of the Solid Waste Collection in the City of Rome (Italy)

Solid waste management represents a complex issue involving political, socioeconomic, institutional, urbanistic and environmental aspects. Separate collection of waste in the Municipality of Rome is a matter of particular interest due to the size of the city (with an urban area of 1,287 km²) and the considerable amount of waste produced (approximately 1,690,000 tons/year). In this context, this paper proposes an in-depth analysis with the aim of optimizing the delivery of waste to collection centres. The optimization focuses on several key elements, including the strategic distribution of collection centres within the city to make them easily accessible, particularly in densely populated areas or where waste production is higher. Based on the data provided by the Municipality of Rome, the waste materials that should be advantageously recycled as part of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) have also been identified. This comprehensive approach can improve the city’s waste management system, promoting the efficient use of resources and reducing environmental impact for greater urban sustainability.

Predict: Assessing the Seismic Response in the city of Rome, Part 1. New Data for a Geologic Overview

This work presents the preliminary results of the stratigraphic, paleomagnetic, micropaleontologic and geochronologic investigations carried out on the cores of three boreholes performed in the historic center of Rome within the Predict Project, aimed at evaluating the seismic response within the City through the 3D modeling of the subsoil. Moreover, we have integrated the investigations on the cores of four previously performed boreholes and we use this larger dataset to provide an objective element for the interpretation and validation of a large databank of paper stratigraphies of boreholes carried out for civil engineering purposes in the Roman area. The new data are presented within an exhaustive review of state of the art on the scientific knowledge on the geology of Rome, aimed at providing an updated background for the Quaternary scientists, seismologists, engineers and professional technicians operating in this region. Within this framework, we provide a detailed reconstruction of the chronostratigraphic setting in central Rome, highlighting a coherent picture within the glacio‐eustatic control on the sedimentary processes and providing the background geological input data for the creation of a geo‐database in a dynamic GIS environment, which is the subject of a forthcoming sister‐paper.

Environmental Archaeology of an Urban Defensive Area at the Time of the Roman Conquest: New Insights from a Hilltop Pond in Lugdunum (Lyon, France)

ABSTRACT This study shows how fine and organic sediments in urban contexts can document landscape changes, anthropogenic activities and depositional processes. We focus on the transition between the late Iron Age and the Roman period in the city of Lyon (France), where an archaeological excavation conducted on Fourvière Hill aimed at understanding the evolution of a defensive site located south-west of the former Roman city. The discovery of a Gallic wall made of earth, wood and stone (murus gallicus) probably indicates the oppidum status of Lyon before the Roman colonisation. Fine-textured, organic and hydromorphic sediments containing a variety of artefacts (fine wares and amphora fragments) and abundant palaeoecological indicators (seeds, fruits, wood and charcoal fragments, pollen, shells, and parasites), were preserved at the foot of the rampart. A multidisciplinary study of these remains reveals the presence of a former hilltop pond surrounded by riparian woodlands with multi-proxy evidence of arable land or gardens, discharge from human settlements (consumption wastes, human parasites), and grazed areas (faecal inputs, animal parasites and plants tolerant to trampling). After several episodes of sediment inputs and backfill, the palaeoenvironmental record ended at the beginning of the Roman Empire, when a defensive wall was built over the site.

Identifying the Main Factors of Elaborating “Smart City” Strategy Using Machine Learning. A Comparative Study Among Romanian Cities

Identifying the Main Factors of Elaborating “Smart City” Strategy Using Machine Learning. A Comparative Study Among Romanian Cities

Geodatabase, metric reconstruction and a GIS platform of historical-archaeological sites in Aquino

This paper presents the contents of a geodatabase developed from the outcomes of survey operations carried out, in several stages since 2015, within the archaeological context of the Roman city of Aquinum, in southern Lazio. The proposed geodatabase integrates traditional topographic surveying techniques with total station, GPS and GNSS geodetic receivers with photogrammetric surveys and terrestrial laser-scanner (TLS) measurements, including the realization of HBIM (Historical Building Information Modeling) models, to investigate some specific historical-archaeological evidence useful to understand the Roman and medieval urban structure of the city. The processing and management of the metric and information datasets were entrusted to a GIS platform, implemented in the opensource Quantum-GIS software, to optimize the flowchart of the acquisition/processing process and to realize an intra-site Web-GIS useful for the visualization and dissemination of the results. The methodological-operational approach applied in the research activities highlights the fundamental contribution that the technological innovations of geomatics can provide for the construction of elaborate knowledge concerning cultural heritage, also becoming the base for the elaboration of more complex and detailed analyses. In this case, for example, the HBIM digital model of the Church of Santa Maria of Libera was also used for an in-depth study in the field of structural engineering, as input to model the masonry vaults of the aisles of the church and assess their structural safety through the analysis methodology denominated "Thrust Network Analysis (TNA)." In addition, the high-precision 3D models developed from detailed photogrammetric measurements of the archaeological fragments and human remains found in the excavation areas made it possible to create interesting "visual digital products" that are immediately understandable even for non-experts, and thus particularly useful for wide-ranging knowledge dissemination.

Strontium isotopes and cremation: Investigating mobility patterns in the Roman city of Mutina (north-eastern Italy)

Cremation was a very common ritual in ancient Roman funerary traditions. However, the study of cremated human remains has always been complex and challenging, which has often led to an imbalance in data recording between inhumations and cremations. In this work, we study 14 cremation burials from two different urban cemeteries in the Roman city of Mutina (Modena, Emilia-Romagna, north-eastern Italy). The use of strontium isotope analysis provides insights into the mobility pattern and provenance of individuals cremated and buried at Mutina. The isotopic results suggest that nine samples fall outside the local bioavailable strontium range of the city of Modena, given their different 87Sr/86Sr values compared to the ratio compatible with alluvial deposits in the Po Valley. Both the isotopic results and the manufacture of some funerary objects suggest that the probable provenance of some individuals is compatible with western (Pre)Alpine areas. The values of 87Sr/86Sr also complement the results obtained from the osteological analysis increasing the minimum number of individuals buried in at least one grave. Our study revealed key insights about cremated individuals from Italy, highlighting variations of the mobility patterns within Roman funerary contexts of Mutina.

Climatic Suitability for Outdoor Tourism in Romania’s Big Cities

This research aims to assess the climatic temporal suitability over the year and identify the appropriate season for open-air tourism in ten Romanian cities. It was evaluated using the Enhanced Tourism Climatic Index on a temporal scale of one day and then aggregated to 10 days over 61 years (1961–2021). Daily mean and maximum temperature, mean and minimum relative humidity, wind speed, precipitation, and sunshine hours were employed in the investigation. The Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope were used for trend detection in the frequency, season duration, and first/last suitable day during the year for outdoor tourism. Acceptable or better weather conditions usually begin in the last part of April and end in mid-October, with Good or better conditions lasting between 260 and 310 days/year. The trend shows a shift of Good conditions earlier in the year (0.3–9.0 days/decade), resulting in a longer season duration (0.8–13.0 days/decade) for open-air activities. The trend is statistically significant mainly for the extra-Carpathian regions. Big differences in open-air events number during the climatically suitable season have been identified among the cities considered (2–19 events/year). This study is useful for better planning open-air events and activities for tourism and recreation.

Tracing Acinetobacter baumannii's Journey from Hospitals to Aquatic Ecosystems.

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of Acinetobacter baumannii in aquatic environments and fish microbiota by integrating culture-dependent methods, 16S metagenomics, and antibiotic resistance profiling. A total of 83 A. baumannii isolates were recovered using culture-dependent methods from intra-hospital infections (IHI) and wastewater (WW) and surface water (SW) samples from two southern Romanian cities in August 2022. The antibiotic susceptibility was screened using disc diffusion, microdilution, PCR, and Whole Genome Sequencing assays. The highest microbial load in the analyzed samples was found in Glina, Bucharest, for both WW and SW samples across all investigated phenotypes. For Bucharest isolates, the resistance levels corresponded to fluoroquinolones > aminoglycosides > β-lactam antibiotics. In contrast, A. baumannii from upstream SW samples in Târgoviște showed the highest resistance to aminoglycosides. The blaOXA-23 gene was frequently detected in IHI, WW, and SW isolates in Bucharest, but was absent in Târgoviște. Molecular phylogeny revealed the presence of ST10 in Târgoviște isolates and ST2 in Bucharest isolates, while other minor STs were not specifically correlated with a sampling point. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, significant differences in microbial populations between the two locations was identified. The low abundance of Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria in both locations suggests environmental pressures or contamination events. These findings indicate significant fecal contamination and potential public health risks, emphasizing the need for improved water quality monitoring and management.

Gauging Airbnb review sentiments and critical key-topics by small area estimation

In literature, several researchers have discovered that the reviews written about Airbnb accommodation tend to be extremely positive than those published on other famous platforms, consequently, many negative experiences remain untracked. Leaving negative experiences underrepresented hampers hosts’ ability to improve their services. To overcome this gap, we employ Small Area Estimation to quantify negative sentiment in Airbnb reviews and the relative critical topics that characterize them. Our methodology involves a two-step process: first, we employ sentiment analysis and topic modeling to identify negative sentiment and critical issues, followed by the application of a mixed effect random forest model to provide a granular analysis of Airbnb reviews in small sub-populations in the context of small area estimation. We focus on domains of the city of Rome defined by geographical areas and the presence of hosts and Superhosts. Our findings reveal nuanced sentiment variations and critical topic proportions that traditional methods often overlook.