We are a group of research from the University “L Orientale” of Naples. We are interested in partnering with other European researchers.

The project leader is Anna Maria D'Onofrio, Professor of Classical Archaeology in the Orientale University in Naples (Dipartimento Asia Africa e Mediterraneo). She has participated in urban excavations of the historical centre of Naples. In the last three years her teaching has focused on the issue of reuse in the historical centre of Naples.
The principal investigator is Andrea D’ Andrea. He is the Technical Director of the CISA (Centro Interdipartimentale di Servizi di Archeologia Università degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale").

Our project intends to examine some historical centres, out of which Naples, which was declared in 1995 a World Heritage Site, through the analysis of the ancient structures which have been reused within the modern urban fabric. The urgency to conserve historical centres intended as pluristratified contexts  has interested various Italian and European cities. The ancient centre is presented as a complex pluristratified reality in which, in various ways, different elements, of various natures, are integrated. (building materials, epigraphs, architectural elements). The majority of actions occur in the cases of monumental historical complexes: single buildings or sites with a historical-archaeological interest and more amply cultural sites.

The aim of this project is to analyse and document the presence and the transformations of the single archaeological objects (the present physiognomy, function, conservation status, analysis of the context) in relation to the transformations of the areas in which they are situated. Through the analysis it is intended to reconstruct the scheme which connects the ancient objects to the modern structures, by identifying the dynamics of interaction and survival in the modern contexts, by adopting a multidisciplinary approach (historical, archaeological, architectonical, urbanistic) that allows to define and represent the variety of evidence and of the overlapping of the buildings. A substantial aspect of our research will focus on a survey of the degree of the cultural perception and the reuse of the ancient presences on behalf of the consumers that aren’t involved exclusively with the tourist circuits.

 From an operative point of view the location, the documentation and the registration of the reused elements and the phenomenon of change which these are subdued to indicate a first form of tutelage. The analysis of the conservation status and of the forms of “reuse” allows the activation of strategies for the circulation of the results in order to launch a process of  awareness and education that supports actions of tutelage and value of the Heritage within a perspective of collaboration and participation of the social component.

The cooperation with our partners is a fundamental resource for the development of a scientific model that can be applied in contexts that differ in culture, historical and social dynamics. This model represents a shared instrument for the application of protection strategies of valorisation and awareness.

Giuseppina Torella
PhD, Independent Researcher