The investigation of Roman urbanism in Italy through archaeological geophysical prospection

The research presented in this portfolio - in the form of nine of my nominated publications from over the past 10 years and an accompanying critical appraisal - presents a long-term programme of study I have undertaken into forms of Roman urbanism. The selected articles also show the development of a methodological approach that demonstrates my significant contributions to understanding Roman towns and their networks. My research draws principally on non-invasive techniques, in particular archaeological geophysical prospection, as these methods permit a detailed and non-invasive form of assessment of the sub-surface archaeological record. As demonstrated by the nominated publications, a range of different site types were investigated, including both major and minor settlements, principally in central Italy but also at other major sites throughout the peninsula and Sicily. This aimed to identify the different influences that drove the development of a settlement as well as the role it performed within a territory. The appraisal draws upon the candidate’s publications on a range of other settlement forms, including vici, villas and rural sanctuaries, thereby placing this research programme in a wider context and generating a greater understanding of the various elements that contributed to the process of urbanism.

Through the selected publications and drawing upon a large body of archaeological research undertaken by the candidate over several decades, the appraisal also discusses the development of a research methodology designed to support the non-intrusive investigation of the ancient built environment within contemporary contexts. Combining different geophysical techniques with other investigative approaches, such as environmental coring and 3D building survey, can lead to a greater understanding of deep and complex stratigraphy. The nominated publications and appraisal demonstrate how this can be supported by detailed archival research and the inclusion of legacy data into a multilayered workflow.