This year the town of Anzio gave host to the Conference of Underwater
Archaeology, the latter being promoted by the Italian Association of Underwater
Archaeologists (A.I.A. SUB). This years congress, presented a whole series
of interesting communications which furnished a whole panorama of results
derived from marine archeaological research. The Anzio meeting was not
only a series of rigorous contributions, but also an occasion to confront
many key problems pertaining to methodology and site protection. The review
given here deals only with those papers concerning methodology and excavations
of the post-classical period. For all other contributions, the reader should
consult the forthcoming publication. The themes chosen for debate were
far from monotonous. Besides studies of the finds taken off the sea bed,
the attention of the symposiasts was focused firmly on many other broad
inter-related themes, for example, the reconstruction of trade routes and
the various types of craft used in antiquity. Concerning the latter, S.
Medas gave a paper entitled "Imbarcazioni monossili: letteratura antica
e archeologia," in which he states that the aforementioned vessel
was rowed on rivers and lakes but could also be used at sea with the aid
of a sail. By means of a thorough analysis of the antique sources, the
author was able to conclude that this particular type of boat was in use
from Early Pre-Historic times right up into modern times, and in so doing,
underlines the technical and cultural continuity traceable in boat building
throughout this period.
The paper of C. Beltrame, entitled 'Distribuzione dei reperti e riconoscimento
dei processi formativi del relitto,' adopts a methodological approach when
highlighting errors current in marine archaeology. One apparently is the
tendency amongst archaeologists to consider their finds purely in the light
of their intrinsic value, and not in the historical context in which they
are found. The author highlights the importance of attempting to isolate
the actual causes and dynamics of shipwrecks, underlining the need for
careful excavation and prudent data interpretation in furthering these
ends. As a result, he laments the serious lack of attention and negligence
in exploring the various ways in which these vessels succumbed and sank.
This oversight, according to Beltrame, is in part attributable to a certain
school of archaeological thought which reveals itself little inclined towards
tackling these important methodological questions, and equally to poor
excavation technique. As a consequence, a more rigorous adoption of stratigraphic
method is called.
Particularly crisp and incisive was the communication of G. Volpe, entitled
'Dieci anni di ricerca a Hyeres in Provence,' written in co-operation with
L. Long. This paper gives a detailed picture of the finds so far brought
to light in Provence. The research here presented was conducted by the
Dipartimento di Studi Classici e Cristiani dell'Università di Bari
in collaboration with DRASSM (Département des recherches subaquatiques
et sous-marines de Marseille.) It shows a series of wrecks, one of which
was identified as a Sixth Century A.D. cargo vessel. Of particular interest
was the discovery of a wooden chest containing weighing scales and weights
of Justin II. The speaker also explained that this research took place
during a student training excavation, something which, the speaker sadly
adds, one rarely encounters in marine archaeology. Volpe does not hesitate
to draw attention to the fact that, more often than not, on under water
sites, the didactic aspect is either swept aside or hardly entered upon.
The paper given by S. Bargagliotti, entitled 'Vasi per la pesca del polpo,'
deals exclusively with the subject of material culture. On the basis of
a comparative study, he suggests an early medieval date for a group of
pottery which was perhaps destined in this period for use in the fishing
of octopus.
The communication of R.Silvetti and V. Gavini, entitled 'Ricerche sub-acquee
nella Sardegna Nord -Occidentale (1992-95)', describes the excavation of
wreck 'B' datable to the end of the Fifteenth Century, located off the
coast of Alghero (SS). Of the material brought to light, attention was
drawn to various pieces of course woven cloth found inside a container
and a number of cloth covered bone buttons. Also recovered were pieces
of slip wares and small glazed pitchers.
The establishment of a good working relationship between archaeology and
computerised technology by M. D'Agostino and L. Fozzati has led to the
creation a computerised archaeological map. This communication entitled
'Venezia: territorio sommerso e tutela,' deals with a project concerning
the submerged sites in the Venetian Lagoon, the first of its kind in the
field of marine archaeology. The advantages offered by the use of computer
technology in the collection and treatment of data are clearly evident,
rendering the collected information more accessible.
The series of communications drawing to a close, a short film was presented
in memory of N. Lamboglia, showing some of the many marine excavations
carried out during his directorship of the 'Centro Sperimentale di Albenga.'
F. Pallarés recalled how this archaeologist in his daily work constantly
applied himself with great energy to all the numerous problems in marine
archaeological research.
A round-table composed of both symposiasts and journalists concluded the
conference. P.A. Gianfrotta criticised the way in which archaeological
finds are often portrayed by the press, emphasising their purely economic
value to the detriment of their cultural and historic interest. Past experience
has shown that this effectively incites further covert and illegal digging
on the part of private individuals. On the theme of marine site protection,
the desire was expressed for more public awareness concerning the need
to preserve sites and guard against their violation.
Elisabetta Garau