Roman ‘Well-cisterns’, Navigational Routes, and Landscape Modifications in the Venice Lagoon and Northeastern Adriatic

ABSTRACT

Underwater investigations in the lagoon of Venice have revealed a partially preserved structure interpreted as a Roman ‘well-cistern’. It is indeed very similar to another, better-preserved building excavated in the same area. The analysis of the mortar, the evaluation of the depth of the structure base in relation to relative sea level, and the absence of foundation poles in the underlying soft lagoon mud support such interpretation. A comparison with other poorly-studied Roman buildings of the same type located along the North Adriatic littoral suggests that they were probably used to supply ships with fresh water. In the Middle Ages, similar structures were used in the islands of the lagoon for sustenance of its residents and became a characteristic of the small squares (campi) of Venice.

RESUMEN

Investigaciones arqueológicas subacuáticas en la laguna de Venecia revelaron una estructura parcialmente preservada, que fue interpretada como un aljibe o cisterna de pozo romana. De hecho, es muy semejante a otra construcción mejor preservada, que fue excavada en la misma zona. El análisis del mortero, la evaluación de la profundidad de la base de la estructura con relación al nivel del mar, y la ausencia de pilares de cimentación en el barro blando subyacente de laguna soportan esta interpretación. Una comparación con otras construcciones romanas del mismo tipo insuficientemente estudiadas y localizadas a lo largo de la costa norte del Adriático, sugieren que éstas probablemente fueron usadas para abastecer embarcaciones de agua potable. Durante la Edad Media, estructuras similares fueron utilizadas en las islas de la laguna para mantener a los residentes y se convirtieron en características de los campos (campi) de Venecia.

摘要

威尼斯泻湖的水下调查揭露出一个部分保存完好的、被认为是罗马时期‘水井-蓄水池’的建筑结构。它确实与同一地区发掘的另一个保存较好的建筑极为近似。对灰浆的分析、结构底部相对海平面的深度的评估，以及下层柔软的泻湖泥浆中没有地基杆都支持这一解析。在与北亚得里亚海沿岸其他研究较少的同类型罗马建筑比较得出它们可能是为船只供应淡水的结论。在中世纪，类似的建筑在泻湖岛屿上被用来为居民提供食物，并成为威尼斯小广场（campi）的一个特征。

摘要

威尼斯瀉湖的水下調查發現一個部分保存完好的、被認為是羅馬時期「水井-蓄水池」的建築結構。它確實與同一地區發掘的另一個保存較好的建築極為近似。對灰漿的分析、結構底部相對海平面的深度的評估，以及下層柔軟的瀉湖泥漿中沒有地基桿都支持這一解析。在與北亞得里亞海沿岸其他研究較少的同類型羅馬建築比較後得出它們可能是為船只供應淡水的結論。在中世紀，類似的建築在瀉湖島嶼上被用來為居民提供食物，並成為威尼斯小廣場（campi）的一個特征。

KEYWORDS:

• Lagoon. Roman
• cistern
• mortar
• underwater

PALABRAS CLAVE:

• Laguna
• romana(o)
• cisterna
• aljibe
• mortero
• subacuático

关键词:

• 泻湖
• 罗马时代
• 蓄水池
• 灰浆
• 水下

關鍵詞:

• 瀉湖
• 羅馬時代
• 蓄水池
• 灰漿
• 水下

المُستخلص:

• 

Acknowledgements

The team of underwater investigations of Ca’ Foscari University was coordinated by C. Beltrame and was composed of S. Medas, E. Costa and E. Pasotto. The logistical and technical support was supplied by the Idra company of Venice. The Idra team was composed of E. Turchetto, N. Turchetto and R. Toffano. This work was supported by the Underwater Muse project (Interreg Italy-Croatia).

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Permissions

The investigations on the site of San Felice Channel and Ca’ Ballarin of 2020 were authorized by the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per l’area metropolitana di Venezia.

Authors Contributions

Carlo Beltrame: introduction and conclusions, archaeological investigation of the cistern of San Felice Channel and study of the comparisons with other cisterns; Stefano Medas: the Ca’ Ballarin cistern and the Stadiasmus for fresh water supply in navigation; Paolo Mozzi: corings and geomorphological aspects; Giulia Ricci: archaeometrical analysis.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Europena Union (UnderwaterMuse project, Interreg Italy-Croatia Cross-Border Cooperation Programme).