New constraints on shoreline location at roman times in the Luni area (Eastern Liguria). The location of the shoreline at roman times in the surroundings of the ancient city of Luna is still an unresolved problem. Many archaeological surveys have been carried out in the area especially since the 1970s; they have supplied a great number of information about the different settling phases. None of them, though, clearly outlined the position of the shoreline, nor provided a reliable scenario of the Portus Lunae palaeoge ography. Archaeological tradition suggested that the sea was lapping the western and southern city walls, so that the they were supposed to form an indentation to follow the coastline irregular profile. This geoarchaeological study, based on geomorphological mapping, stratigraphic and chronostrati graphic analyses supported by archaeological data, disproves some old theories and constrains the tract of the Magra River alluvial plain where the roman times’ coastline is likely to be located. Our research demonstrates that the sea was farther off the city than previously supposed and highlights the areas where geoarchaeological research should be focused in order to identify the city of Luna harbour structures.
Nuove indicazioni sulla posizione della linea di riva di età romana nell’area lunense (Liguria orientale)
BINI, MONICA;PAPPALARDO, MARTA
2010-01-01
Abstract
New constraints on shoreline location at roman times in the Luni area (Eastern Liguria). The location of the shoreline at roman times in the surroundings of the ancient city of Luna is still an unresolved problem. Many archaeological surveys have been carried out in the area especially since the 1970s; they have supplied a great number of information about the different settling phases. None of them, though, clearly outlined the position of the shoreline, nor provided a reliable scenario of the Portus Lunae palaeoge ography. Archaeological tradition suggested that the sea was lapping the western and southern city walls, so that the they were supposed to form an indentation to follow the coastline irregular profile. This geoarchaeological study, based on geomorphological mapping, stratigraphic and chronostrati graphic analyses supported by archaeological data, disproves some old theories and constrains the tract of the Magra River alluvial plain where the roman times’ coastline is likely to be located. Our research demonstrates that the sea was farther off the city than previously supposed and highlights the areas where geoarchaeological research should be focused in order to identify the city of Luna harbour structures.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
