The main areas of interest of the project are in Africa, with particular attention to the territorial systems of Algeria and Morocco. Other regions will be considered for comparison, such as the Iberian Peninsula, the ancient mines of Sardinia and Calabria. In addition, special attention will be paid to the Adriatic region. Albania will be considered as an area under Greek influence, but with traces of Carthage.
Morocco and Albania are the subject of archaeological missions. The other regions are documented with specific studies, summaries, and bibliographical data to maintain an overview of the issues related to the study of ancient Mediterranean mines.
The experience gained in the field of archaeometallurgy represents the solid core of knowledge for innovative developments to upgrade mining areas and documentation of the relevant archaeological sites.
The research is developed in a global vision that identifies the search for mineral resources as a primary and essential need of ancient populations, albeit in the different declinations related to different local cultures.
The comparison between the knowledge and technological innovations developed in apparently distant areas such as North Africa and the Balkan region contributes to recompose in a unitary framework the cultural and economic elements that characterize the richness of the common substratum of Mediterranean culture.
Areas of interest:
- Archaeological missions: Morocco, Albania
- The Near East
- Africa: Tunisia, Algeria, Libya
- The Iberian Peninsula and the Atlantic Route
- The ancient mining basins of Italy