The Roman Amphitheatre in Durazzo (Durres): geophysical surveys and archaeological emergences

Abstract

In this work we characterize the microgravity and seismic response of archaeological remains of Roman Amphitheater of Durres situated on the Adriatic coast in Albania. Geophysical methods have proven to very useful to archaeologists in order to detect, map and study the characteristics of different types of objects and structures in the subsurface. These methods allow the evaluation of their conservation state, the identification of different construction phases and zones disturbed by agricultural activities or plundering. Moreover the investigation of geological deposits and buried landforms is useful for generating paleo-environmental information. The surveys indicate the presence of walls of various sizes and width having different preservation states and series of underground tunnels used to house animals and slaves as construction of the Colosseum. Structures sizes are comparable to those of medium size in the other amphitheatres found in the Mediterranean basin. Our study focused on southern sector of the site. Archaeological excavations were carried out at this area, with only one house being dug in each sector. The archaeological excavations carried out in this sector show evidence the comparison between the seismic and gravity data. According to the historical investigations, these sectors should correspond to settlers houses, but there is no information about the internal organization of the houses and their occupation before the abandonment of the colony. The building ended to be used for entertainment in the early Middle age. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Byzantine shirne.Published33- 513SR. AMBIENTE - Servizi e ricerca per la Societ