Seven years in Portus. Italian-Spanish archeology at the Molo della Lanterna

The exhibition Seven years in Portus. Italian-Spanish archeology at the Molo della Lanterna by the University of Huelva in collaboration with the Archaeological park of Ostia antica, through 16 panels, presents visitors with the results obtained from the project that the Spanish university and the archaeological park have been conducting since 2017. This geo-archaeological research project concerns the east-west pier of Portus, called Molo della Lanterna, which is located within the Archaeological area of ​​the imperial ports of Claudius and Trajan.

In fact, in recent years the excavation campaigns have made it possible to analyze in depth the knowledge of this relevant area of ​​port structures and their construction system.

The research initially concerned the head of the Molo della Lanterna, bringing to light the later structures built above and investigating the process of swamping of this area of ​​the port. Subsequently, excavations were carried out in the northern area, where an in-depth investigation made it possible to identify the remains of the wooden formwork in which the concrete was poured for the construction of the pier. The searches then also moved to the southern part of the pier, on the side of the canal at the entrance to Trajan’s Lake.

The excavation activity was accompanied by geoarchaeological research activities, through core sampling and geophysical prospecting.