Archeologia della ‘storia archeologica’ di un sito. L’ultimo strato dell’Anfiteatro Romano di Cagliari

Mattia Sanna Montanelli

;Fabio Calogero Pinna

2024-01-01

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Abstract

The "last layer," which all citizens contribute to forming, more or less consciously, in the present, stands as the most reliable witness to the actions carried out by contemporary communities, driven by various forces that are not always aligned with a shared project vision. By recording the most recent repurposing of a context in an "archaeological" sense, this forming layer appears, compared to deeper ones, more laden with ἀρχή, meaning origin, rather than ἀρχαῖος, meaning ancient. As part of the "archaeological history" of a site and an indispensable pre-design knowledge foundation, Contemporary Archaeology can represent, using the "stratigraphic method," the forces (not only physical but also often value-based) still acting on an asset recognized for its public cultural interest. Drawing from a well-qualified body of sources (heterogeneous in nature, producers, and chronological segments), collected since 2012 during the deconstruction works of the theatrical installations on the ruins of the Roman amphitheater of Cagliari, this contribution reflects on the outcomes of a unique stratigraphic analysis. This analysis focuses on the interventions that have affected the structure and its social environment over its 157 years of "archaeological history," culminating in the feasibility document for alternative projects, submitted for the City of Cagliari's bid "Protection and safety interventions for the usability of the Roman Amphitheater." The analysis confirms that within the "narrow" space of this last layer, where the archaeological life of a site unfolds, Contemporary Archaeology, through a risk-oriented approach, can offer a concrete contribution to the interpretive and management planning of sites, with a view to sustainable protection and enhancement.