Corinaldo (AN)

Coordinator/ Mission Manager

Federica Boschi

Field of research and classifications

Archaeological disciplines from prehistory to the medieval period

VRA: area 10

ERC: SH3 Environment, space, and population: environmental studies, geography, demography, migrations, regional and urban studies; SH 6, The study of the human past: archaeology, history, and memory

SDG: 4) Quality education; 10) Reduced Inequalities; 11) Sustainable cities and communities; 15) Life on land; 17) Partnerships for the goals.

Prevalent type of public engagement

Participation in urban development projects or the valorization of local areas

Description

The excavation that led to the discovery of the Picene and Roman necropolis in Corinaldo originated from a preventive archaeology procedure to design a new sports facility in the Nevola area, organized by the Municipality of Corinaldo in agreement with SABAP Marche. The archaeological investigations, conducted through non-invasive survey methods (geophysics and remote sensing) and subsequent excavation, were preparatory for the planning of the complex, which now already includes the newly constructed sports arena but is expected to be expanded and supplemented with features designed to valorize and raise awareness about the  archaeological component. These include setting up a temporary exhibition and organizing evening conferences for the local community and interested members of the public.

The synergistic collaboration between institutions, local entities, and the businesses involved in this case positions archaeology as a primary actor in the construction planning process, and the objectives achieved have led the same approach to be adopted for preventive archaeological evaluation with the purpose of knowledge, protection, and planning throughout the entire Nevola valley area and surrounding middle valleys.

Locations and Periods

The research has been ongoing since 2017. The excavation of the necropolis in Contrada Nevola takes place annually in summer, while the investigations in the area are organized between spring and late autumn. The archaeological area is located in Contrada Burello, and the site valorization activities are distributed between Contrada Burello and the C. Ridolfi Municipal Art Gallery of Corinaldo. The exhibition "Il tesoro ritrovato. La tomba del principe di Corinaldo" has been accessible since 25/07/2021 at the Art Gallery. The conferences "Quelle antiche sere" are regularly held at the Church of S. Maria in Portuno, in Madonna del Piano.

Collaborations and Partners

Project team participants with oversight roles are:

• Vincenzo Baldoni, Enrico Zampieri (UniBo, DiSCi), Michael Benfatti, Anna Gamberini (UniBo, DBC).
• Active collaborations with:
• DBC (UniBo): Ancient DNA Laboratory (Elisabetta Cilli), metal chemical analysis (Cristina Chiavari), Roman ritual practices (Giuseppe Lepore).
• LM in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (UniBo), (Isabella Rimondi, Cristina Leoni).
• National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Rome (Iacopo Nicolosi, Roberto Carluccio).
• Laboratory of Anthropology and Forensic Odontology, University of Milan (Cristina Cattaneo).
• Restoration Laboratory of the Civic Archaeological Museum of Castelleone di Suasa (Mirco Zaccaria).
• Flaminia Foundation, Ravenna.

Objectives and Engaged Audiences

The project, involving the active and important participation of SABAP Marche and the Municipality of Corinaldo, is directed at fostering a conscious and attentive planning approach to archaeological heritage and its promotion. The Municipality strives to raise awareness among citizens about archaeology and cultural identity, as well as to encourage educational activities in schools. The Municipality’s Technical Office contributes to ensuring dialogue with the businesses involved in the planning process. The Carabinieri Command of Corinaldo supports the safeguarding of the site during excavations and monitoring in other periods.

Engaged Audiences: Local institutions and entities; Citizens; Schools (students and teachers); Businesses.

Impact and Evaluation Tools

In addition to the annual participation of university students at various levels (25-30 per year) involved in the excavation and area research, there are educational activities organized for local schools, a temporary exhibition dedicated to the archaeological findings titled "Il tesoro ritrovato. La tomba del Principe di Corinaldo," and the initiative "Quelle antiche sere" consisting of evening conferences on archaeological themes regularly held for the local community. This combination contributes to promoting the local area and the university's third mission and making it available for the public to enjoy.

The evaluation tools considered indicative for achieving the project objectives and evaluating the effectiveness of its related initiatives include media coverage (the extensive press coverage documented so far, dedicated television and radio features), the number of external partners, attendance numbers (for the temporary exhibition and community conferences), and monitoring of website access (see below).

Keywords

Preventive Archaeology; Planning; Nevola; Picene Necropolis; Roman Burial Site; Remote Sensing; Geophysics; Enhancement; Public Archaeology.