Books by Alessandro Sebastiani
Il volume esplora il complesso rapporto fra i resti monumentali classici di Roma e il loro utiliz... more Il volume esplora il complesso rapporto fra i resti monumentali classici di Roma e il loro utilizzo ideologico dal Regno d’Italia alla fine del regime fascista (1870-1945). Prendendo in esame alcuni monumenti della città, l’autore ci mostra come la loro romanitas sia stata intenzionalmente manipolata per costruire l’identità nazionale italiana moderna e contemporanea.
Tale identità fu modellata grazie a una fusione di passato e presente, attraverso la creazione di luoghi simbolici e ideologici, alcuni dei quali vennero recuperati dal tessuto cittadino, come i Fori Imperiali, il Colosseo, il Mausoleo di Augusto e l’Ara Pacis, con una sistematica azione di isolamento urbanistico. Altri furono edificati ex novo, come il Palazzo di Giustizia, il Foro Italico o il quartiere dell’Eur, o plasmati realizzando grandi boulevards urbani per ufficializzare la creazione della capitale del Regno d’Italia e della Roma di Mussolini. Si trattò di un grande progetto di placemaking ideologico, dove l’archeologia classica e i monumenti dell’antichità divennero protagonisti della nascita dello Stato italiano.
This volume, the third in the series MediTo, investigates the changing landscapes of Tuscany duri... more This volume, the third in the series MediTo, investigates the changing landscapes of Tuscany during Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. Through a selection of thematic case studies, presented initially during the second International workshop held in Paganico (Grosseto, Italy) in June 2019 and here further developed, the volume explores the concepts of settlement, economic, and societal changes in both Tuscany and its broader Mediterranean context over the course of several centuries. Together, the contributions gathered here showcase how cities and rural settlements, when studied in their archaeological and historical context, shed light on a dynamic landscape in which natural resources played a crucial role in defining the success or later abandonment of sites.
Cambridge University Press, 2023
In this book, Alessandro Sebastiani examines how architecture and urbanism can be used to constru... more In this book, Alessandro Sebastiani examines how architecture and urbanism can be used to construct national identity. Using Rome as his case study, he explores how the city was transformed to accommodate different political ideologies in the period from 1870 to the end of World War II. After unification, Rome's classical architecture served as a reference point, guiding transformations of the urban fabric that met contemporary needs but also supported the agenda of the newly-formed Italian state. The advent of fascist state in the 1920s ushered in a different order of ideological placemaking. The monuments of ancient Roman were isolated in order to enhance their structural elegance, a scheme that powerfully conveyed political messages in support of Mussolini's regime. Sebastiani's volume offers a new approach to understanding the sophisticated relationships between archeology, urban planning, and politics within the city of Rome. Moreover, it highlights the consequences of suppressing historical evidence from monuments and archaeological sites.
Mondadori, 2022
The volume depicts the life and achievements of the Roman emperor Hadrian, through the analysis o... more The volume depicts the life and achievements of the Roman emperor Hadrian, through the analysis of written sources, architecture, and personal events.
This volume, the first in a new series dedicated to the archaeological and historical landscapes ... more This volume, the first in a new series dedicated to the archaeological and historical landscapes of central Mediterranean Italy, aims to offer a fresh and dynamic new approach to our understanding of central-southern maritime Tuscany during the Roman period. Drawing on research that was initially presented at the first International Mediterranean Tuscan Conference (MediTo) held in Paganico (Grosseto, Italy) in June 2018, and supported by invited papers from other experts in the field, this collection of essays offers the most up-to-date research into Roman and Late Antique landscapes within Tuscany and its broader Mediterranean context, as well as the political, economic, and social networks that developed in this area during the Classical Period. Ultimately, what emerges from this in-depth study of river valleys, urban centres, and coastal settlements is an understanding of a dynamic Roman territory of cities and villages, villas and sanctuaries, minor sites, and manufacturing districts in which the local population fought to establish and maintain connections with the wider Mediterranean.
This volume is the first in series of works detailing the archaeological investigations of the ag... more This volume is the first in series of works detailing the archaeological investigations of the ager Rusellanus, in coastal southern Etruria, undertaken by the Alberese Archaeological Project.
It focuses on the Roman temple and sanctuary dedicated to Diana Umbronensis, located at Scoglietto (Alberese – GR) on the ancient Tyrrhenian coast. In so doing it adds to the study of trade and settlement networks in ancient Italy, and provides new data on the character of Roman and late antique Etruria.
The book discusses the changing aspect and character of the sanctuary over approximately eight centuries – from its foundation in the mid-2nd century BC and substantial refurbishment in the Antonine period, to its destruction in the 4th century AD and the varied use and reuse of the site through the following two centuries. It includes archaeological, historical and landscape studies, as well as detailed architectural and material culture studies for a composite interpretation of the site and its history.
Questo volume è il primo di una serie di lavori che descrive le indagini archeologiche nell’ager Rusellanus, nell’Etruria costiera meridionale, intraprese dal Progetto Archeologico Alberese.
Questo libro si concentra sui templi Romani e il santuario dedicato a Diana Umbronensis, localizzati presso Scoglietto (Alberese – GR) sull’antica costa Tirrenica e fornisce nuovi dati sullo studio dei commerci e della rete insediativa nell’Italia antica e dell’Etruria romana e tardoantica.
Al suo interno sono discussi gli aspetti di cambiamento del santuario lungo i suoi otto secoli di storia – dalla sua fondazione nel corso della metà del II secolo a.C. e il sostanziale restauro dell’età Antonina, sino alla sua distruzione nel IV secolo d.C. e i vari usi e riusi del sito nei due secoli successivi.
Il libro contiene studi di carattere archeologico, storico e paesaggistico, così come analisi dettagliate della cultura materiale e dell’architettura al fine di fornire un quadro composito dell’insediamento e della sua storia.
Papers by Alessandro Sebastiani
Journal of Fasti ONLINE, 2024
Negli ultimi tre anni gli scavi archeologici presso il Castellaraccio di Monteverdi hanno restitu... more Negli ultimi tre anni gli scavi archeologici presso il Castellaraccio di Monteverdi hanno restituito nuovi dati sulla cronologia del sito, permettendo di formulare una periodizzazione preliminare delle sue fasi di uso. Questo articolo riassume i risultati della ricerca e li contestualizza nel più ampio territorio dell’Ardenghesca, ovvero il feudo medievale corrispondente al moderno comune di Civitella Paganico (Grosseto).
The Tomb of the Rings and the Tomb of the Linen. New Data for a Late Etruscan Community in the Middle Valley of the Ombrone River (Civitella Paganico -Italy), 2024
The paper describes the discovery of two late Etruscan burials at Podere Cannicci (Civitella Paga... more The paper describes the discovery of two late Etruscan burials at Podere Cannicci (Civitella Paganico, GR) and their significance within the broader territory of this part of Etruria.
IGARSS 2024, 2024
This paper presents an innovative approach to archaeological and geological exploration, combinin... more This paper presents an innovative approach to archaeological and geological exploration, combining Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and advanced robotic algorithms. Utilizing SAR data captured by Capella, the study identifies areas of interest (AOIs) through supervised classification methods. These AOIs are then surveyed by a UAV equipped with GPR, optimized for efficient pathfinding and maximal coverage using robotic exploration algorithms. The survey generates high-resolution radar images, detailed digital elevation models, and orthomosaic images through photogrammetry, providing a comprehensive view of both surface and subsurface features.
Etruscan and Italic Studies, 2024
The paper describes the discovery of two late Etruscan burials at Podere Cannicci (Civitella Paga... more The paper describes the discovery of two late Etruscan burials at Podere Cannicci (Civitella Paganico, GR) and their significance within the broader territory of this part of Etruria.
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology, 2023
Roman stamped bricks are considered one of the best indicators of the provenance of Roman buildin... more Roman stamped bricks are considered one of the best indicators of the provenance of Roman building materials, contractors and owners, due to the names included in the stamps. They are also a good proxy for understanding part of the supply chain directed towards Rome and the city’s peripheral territories; however, hypotheses based on stamps are nevertheless often insufficient for pinpointing production centers, which limits the extent to which the movement of these materials and their makers can be reconstructed. This paper analyses some well-preserved brick assemblages from the Ager Rusellanus in southern Tuscany and reviews previous provenance hypotheses based on the stamps. The results from ceramic petrography and a systematic review of published analyses highlight how combining contextual information with a well-structured, analytical approach is fundamental for understanding the movement of goods, the nature of the workforce and even the relationship between state-commissioned building works and its agents.
American Journal of Archaeology, Mar 7, 2023
Archaeological discovery, 2023
Encounters, Excavations and Argosies
American Journal of Archaeology
This volume, the first in a new series dedicated to the archaeological and historical landscapes ... more This volume, the first in a new series dedicated to the archaeological and historical landscapes of central Mediterranean Italy, aims to offer a fresh and dynamic new approach to our understanding of central-southern maritime Tuscany during the Roman period. Drawing on research that was initially presented at the first International Mediterranean Tuscan Conference (MediTo) held in Paganico (Grosseto, Italy) in June 2018, and supported by invited papers from other experts in the field, this collection of essays offers the most up-to-date research into Roman and Late Antique landscapes within Tuscany and its broader Mediterranean context, as well as the political, economic, and social networks that developed in this area during the Classical Period. Ultimately, what emerges from this in-depth study of river valleys, urban centres, and coastal settlements is an understanding of a dynamic Roman territory of cities and villages, villas and sanctuaries, minor sites, and manufacturing districts in which the local population fought to establish and maintain connections with the wider Mediterranean.
American Journal of Archaeology
Etruscan and Italic Studies
In March 2021, following some agricultural activities on a slight relief in the area of Civitella... more In March 2021, following some agricultural activities on a slight relief in the area of Civitella Paganico, the remains of a second century BCE burial were excavated by the research team of the IMPERO Project (Interconnected Mobility of People and Economies along the River Ombrone). This paper details the results of the rescue excavations and presents the preliminary data on the nearby settlement of Podere Cannicci to contextualize its necropolis. Finally, the paper addresses some initial thoughts on the broader importance of the discovery in terms of settlement networks and spheres of cultural influences in this liminal area.
2021, Christof Berns – Sabine Huy (Eds.), The Impact of Rivers on Ancient Economies, Panel 2.2, Archaeology and Economy in the Ancient World 4 (Heidelberg, Propylaeum 2021), 2021
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Books by Alessandro Sebastiani
Tale identità fu modellata grazie a una fusione di passato e presente, attraverso la creazione di luoghi simbolici e ideologici, alcuni dei quali vennero recuperati dal tessuto cittadino, come i Fori Imperiali, il Colosseo, il Mausoleo di Augusto e l’Ara Pacis, con una sistematica azione di isolamento urbanistico. Altri furono edificati ex novo, come il Palazzo di Giustizia, il Foro Italico o il quartiere dell’Eur, o plasmati realizzando grandi boulevards urbani per ufficializzare la creazione della capitale del Regno d’Italia e della Roma di Mussolini. Si trattò di un grande progetto di placemaking ideologico, dove l’archeologia classica e i monumenti dell’antichità divennero protagonisti della nascita dello Stato italiano.
It focuses on the Roman temple and sanctuary dedicated to Diana Umbronensis, located at Scoglietto (Alberese – GR) on the ancient Tyrrhenian coast. In so doing it adds to the study of trade and settlement networks in ancient Italy, and provides new data on the character of Roman and late antique Etruria.
The book discusses the changing aspect and character of the sanctuary over approximately eight centuries – from its foundation in the mid-2nd century BC and substantial refurbishment in the Antonine period, to its destruction in the 4th century AD and the varied use and reuse of the site through the following two centuries. It includes archaeological, historical and landscape studies, as well as detailed architectural and material culture studies for a composite interpretation of the site and its history.
Questo volume è il primo di una serie di lavori che descrive le indagini archeologiche nell’ager Rusellanus, nell’Etruria costiera meridionale, intraprese dal Progetto Archeologico Alberese.
Questo libro si concentra sui templi Romani e il santuario dedicato a Diana Umbronensis, localizzati presso Scoglietto (Alberese – GR) sull’antica costa Tirrenica e fornisce nuovi dati sullo studio dei commerci e della rete insediativa nell’Italia antica e dell’Etruria romana e tardoantica.
Al suo interno sono discussi gli aspetti di cambiamento del santuario lungo i suoi otto secoli di storia – dalla sua fondazione nel corso della metà del II secolo a.C. e il sostanziale restauro dell’età Antonina, sino alla sua distruzione nel IV secolo d.C. e i vari usi e riusi del sito nei due secoli successivi.
Il libro contiene studi di carattere archeologico, storico e paesaggistico, così come analisi dettagliate della cultura materiale e dell’architettura al fine di fornire un quadro composito dell’insediamento e della sua storia.
Papers by Alessandro Sebastiani
Tale identità fu modellata grazie a una fusione di passato e presente, attraverso la creazione di luoghi simbolici e ideologici, alcuni dei quali vennero recuperati dal tessuto cittadino, come i Fori Imperiali, il Colosseo, il Mausoleo di Augusto e l’Ara Pacis, con una sistematica azione di isolamento urbanistico. Altri furono edificati ex novo, come il Palazzo di Giustizia, il Foro Italico o il quartiere dell’Eur, o plasmati realizzando grandi boulevards urbani per ufficializzare la creazione della capitale del Regno d’Italia e della Roma di Mussolini. Si trattò di un grande progetto di placemaking ideologico, dove l’archeologia classica e i monumenti dell’antichità divennero protagonisti della nascita dello Stato italiano.
It focuses on the Roman temple and sanctuary dedicated to Diana Umbronensis, located at Scoglietto (Alberese – GR) on the ancient Tyrrhenian coast. In so doing it adds to the study of trade and settlement networks in ancient Italy, and provides new data on the character of Roman and late antique Etruria.
The book discusses the changing aspect and character of the sanctuary over approximately eight centuries – from its foundation in the mid-2nd century BC and substantial refurbishment in the Antonine period, to its destruction in the 4th century AD and the varied use and reuse of the site through the following two centuries. It includes archaeological, historical and landscape studies, as well as detailed architectural and material culture studies for a composite interpretation of the site and its history.
Questo volume è il primo di una serie di lavori che descrive le indagini archeologiche nell’ager Rusellanus, nell’Etruria costiera meridionale, intraprese dal Progetto Archeologico Alberese.
Questo libro si concentra sui templi Romani e il santuario dedicato a Diana Umbronensis, localizzati presso Scoglietto (Alberese – GR) sull’antica costa Tirrenica e fornisce nuovi dati sullo studio dei commerci e della rete insediativa nell’Italia antica e dell’Etruria romana e tardoantica.
Al suo interno sono discussi gli aspetti di cambiamento del santuario lungo i suoi otto secoli di storia – dalla sua fondazione nel corso della metà del II secolo a.C. e il sostanziale restauro dell’età Antonina, sino alla sua distruzione nel IV secolo d.C. e i vari usi e riusi del sito nei due secoli successivi.
Il libro contiene studi di carattere archeologico, storico e paesaggistico, così come analisi dettagliate della cultura materiale e dell’architettura al fine di fornire un quadro composito dell’insediamento e della sua storia.
The area of the Roman riverine port at Spolverino has not yet revealed the fundamental infrastructures such as wharves, dykes or moorings, as these are now destroyed by the continuous action of the river and its shift of the bend; nonetheless, a possible mooring was reused in an associated structure at the positio of Umbro flumen. The maritime and riverine port was part of an integrated economic system, including the just mentioned positio and the sanctuary area of Diana Umbronensis.
Around the mid 6th c. AD, a sunken feature building was constructed in the southern part of the earlier religious complex. Taking advantage of the foundation cut of the terminal apse, the hut exhibited a circular plan of c. 5m in diameter. Its walls were built of pisé and a number of postholes were found around the perimeter of the dwelling. The excavation of the base of the hut yielded locally produced cooking pottery as well as some residual fragments of amphorae. Together with this structure, a quantity of postholes were discovered in the opus spicatum square in front of the temple as well as in the area of Room IV. Unfortunately no clear alignments could be recognized and so their interpretation is of possible fences or animal pens. A Byzantine denario, minted under Justinian, relating to this phase of occupation was discovered in the 2011 excavation season. A fire finally destroyed the hut and other structures during the mid 6th c. AD and the hill of Scoglietto was never again occupied.
Paesaggi dell'Etruria romana
29 - 30 Giugno 2018
Comitato scientifico
Richard Hodges - American University of Rome
Daniele Manacorda - Università Roma Tre
Carolina Megale - Università di Firenze
Riccardo Rao - Università di Bergamo
Alessandro Sebastiani - University at Buffalo (SUNY)
MediTo è organizzato in collaborazione con l’Associazione culturale Past in Progress e con il patrocinio di:
Comune di Civitella Paganico
Centro Studi Città e Territorio
Ass. Cult. Past in Progress
Department of Classics - University at Buffalo (SUNY)
IEMA Institute of European and Mediterranean Archaeology (University at Buffalo)
American University of Rome
Finally, the results of this paper also inform on the different political spheres of influence of the four different Etruscan cities at Podere Cannicci, attempting to delineate a new interpretation for the administrative boundaries of this liminal part of Etruria.
Osteological analyses included those for demographic information and paleopathological conditions. Analysis revealed the presence of two subadults and two adult males. All individuals expressed indicators of active stress, including moderate cribra orbitalia in the subadults and active periosteal reactions in the adults. Of note was one male who expressed evidence of rhinomaxillary syndrome in conjunction with other pathologies.
The burial of these individuals at Spolverino represents a key phase of transition in the transformation of the landscape from thriving manufacturing district to agricultural fields that persist today. Spolverino’s abandonment and conversion into a necropolis provide insight into the collapse of the Late Antique settlement network along the Ombrone.
New Archaeological Insights in the Mediterranean Seascape
Call for Papers
https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2018/
Session #738
Organizers: Prof. Alessandro Sebastiani (University at Buffalo, SUNY - USA) and Dr. Edoardo Vanni (University of Siena - ITALY)
Session Theme: Mediterranean Seascape
The Mediterranean has been a place of connectivity and mobility of people throughout all the ages. However, during economic crisis and migration period, this seascape has also been the lieu of political conflicts and geographical limitations. As contemporary facts highlight, mobility (and its related connectivity) has been questioned by the recent crisis of Europe together with the geopolitical instability of those countries facing the Mediterranean. In order to retrieve a sense of resilience, we as archaeologists, have to contribute through an analysis of historical migration processes, the mobility of goods and interconnectivity of social cultures.
This session aims to collect a series of reflections about the Mediterranean as a peculiar space of interactions in terms of politics, economies and social communities. Contributions focusing on the connectivity and mobility across the Iron Age to late Medieval Mediterranean are welcome. Particularly, we welcome papers inherent to these topics: i) Historical migration processes; ii) Material cross-cultural interaction; iii) Material and social integration in the Mediterranean; iv) Trans-maritime and cabotage movements; v) Resilient approaches to connectivity; vi) Interconnectivity among rivers, sea, and islands; vii) Ecological changes in relationship with mobility across the Mediterranean.
It is anticipated that the maximum number of accepted papers will be 14.
Submit your abstract by February 15, 2018
https://eaa.klinkhamergroup.com/eaa2018/
Through this talk, I would like to present how a multidisciplinary approach to the study of a set of landscapes can contribute to the wider understanding of a micro-regional context. At the same time, the lecture will inform on different economic and settlement trends in this area from the Imperial period to the Late Antiquity.
From the Republican period until the late second century C.E., the villa is used for both residential and productive purposes. The residential area should be lo- cated in the southern and western parts of the complex, as the recovery of a large number of black-and-white mosaic tesserae testifies. In this phase, the villa has an atrium and a surrounding portico, with a possible impluvium in the center. The material culture shows the presence of high-quality glass vessels and pottery, while the remaining rooms are decorated with marble veneers. The discovery of an olive or wine press, reused in a later wall, testifies to the use of a portion of the complex also for agricultural productions.
At the beginning of the third century C.E. and throughout the fourth century, the situation changes, with a series of new rooms arranged in the area of the im- pluvium. This reorganization involves the construction of at least two dividing walls in the central portico. A collective kitchen is built in the previous northern aisle of the atrium, while a large, oval furnace is built in the eastern one. The latter is dedicated to the production of Egyptian blue pigment (caeruleum), as a large quantity of it surrounds the kiln. Along the northeast perimeter of the complex, a room hosts a metal workshop. A forge is built against the eastern wall, producing bronze rivets to fix boats and ships. A series of lead net weights testifies also a spe- cific production linked to fishing activities in the nearby sea and river Ombrone.
A later occupation during the entire fifth century C.E. can be detected through the recovery of a distinctive assemblage of pottery and coins in some of the latest contexts. However, modern agricultural activities have possibly destroyed some of the structures related to this period, and only further research will be able to shed a light on the Late Antique phase of the settlement.
The Winter School is organized by the University of Sheffield in partnership with the John Cabot University at Rome.
The students attending the course come from the University of Queensland (Australia)
Regional Park of Maremma (June - November 2015)
Archaeological Museum of Grosseto (July 2014 - May 2015)
The field school excavations focus on two archaeological sites along the middle valley of the river Ombrone: a late Etruscan-Republican sanctuary and related vicus, and a deserted medieval village. These sites represent a unique opportunity to investigate economies in transition and settlement patterns in the territory of South Etruria. Courses are aimed at students, early career scholars, and those passionate about archaeology, classics, art history, anthropology and cultural heritage management.
No prior experience is required.
The excavations are carried out by the Department of Classics of the University at Buffalo – SUNY in collaboration with the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le Province di Siena, Grosseto e Arezzo, the Michigan State University Department of Anthropology and the Cooper Union for Advancement of the Science and Arts of New York.
The course is a fundamental introduction to stratigraphic excavation methods and the analysis of excavated artifacts. Subjects include excavation methods and their application, analysis of built structures and archaeological features, context analysis, finds handling and recording, and studies of ceramic, glass, metal, human bone, animal bone, and numismatic material.
All details can be found at our website www.imperoproject.com
New Archaeological Insights in the Mediterranean Seascape
Call for Papers
https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2018/
Session #738
Organizers: Prof. Alessandro Sebastiani (University at Buffalo, SUNY - USA) and Dr. Edoardo Vanni (University of Siena - ITALY)
Session Theme: Mediterranean Seascape
The Mediterranean has been a place of connectivity and mobility of people throughout all the ages. However, during economic crisis and migration period, this seascape has also been the lieu of political conflicts and geographical limitations. As contemporary facts highlight, mobility (and its related connectivity) has been questioned by the recent crisis of Europe together with the geo-political instability of those countries facing the Mediterranean. In order to retrieve a sense of resilience, we as archaeologists, have to contribute through an analysis of historical migration processes, mobility of goods and interconnectivity of social cultures.
This session aims to collect a series of reflections about the Mediterranean as a peculiar space of interactions in terms of politics, economies and social communities. Contributions focusing on the connectivity and mobility across the Iron Age to late Medieval Mediterranean are welcome. Particularly, we welcome papers inherent to these topics: i) Historical migration processes; ii) Material cross-cultural interaction; iii) Material and social integration in the Mediterranean; iv) Trans-maritime and cabotage movements; v) Resilient approaches to connectivity; vi) Interconnectivity among rivers, sea and islands; vii) Ecological changes in relationship with mobility across Mediterranean.
It is anticipated that the maximum number of accepted papers will be 14.
Submit your abstract by February 15, 2018
https://eaa.klinkhamergroup.com/eaa2018/