The restoration of the Capitolium of Carsulae: a recovery between archaeology and innovation

Between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, the restoration of the building known as the Capitolium, located west of the Carsulae forum area of the Archaeological Park of Carsulae, on the Via Flaminia in the border area between Terni and San Gemini, was completed. The interventions mainly involved the masonry of the south side, completing the restoration of the east and west sides as well. The project, carried out after years of excavations and archaeological surveys, was made possible thanks to a 29,500 euro grant provided by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Terni e Narni through theArt Bonus mechanism. The same fiscal tool also made it possible to complete two other interventions in the urban area of Carsulae: the recovery of the Domus dei Mosaici and the restoration of some rooms on the northern side of the forum. Conducting the excavation and restoration operations was theAssociazione A.S.T.R.A. Onlus, operating under a ministerial concession, with the scientific direction of archaeologists Luca Donnini and Massimiliano Gasperini. Instead, the consolidation of the masonry was entrusted to restorer Martina Fagioli, who worked with the collaboration of Angelica Catozzi, an expert in cultural heritage diagnostics. In fact, the current knowledge of Carsulae owes much to the work of archaeologist Umberto Ciotti, who conducted systematic excavations between 1951 and 1972, bringing to light only a small part of the city of Carsulae. Nevertheless, historical research testifies that unofficial excavations were carried out as early as the 16th century, aimed at the recovery of materials intended for the decoration of the Cesi Palace of Acquasparta.

“Ten years after the enactment of the law,” said Carolina Botti director of ALES - Arte Lavoro e Servizi S.p.A. and Art Bonus referent for the Ministry of Culture, “the Art Bonus is increasingly recognized as a strategic norm for the protection and enhancement of Italy’s cultural heritage through public-private management of the heritage. Among the various areas of application is also the archaeological heritage of public ownership, in many cases managed by private individuals as concessionaires, a category that is assuming a very important role in the application of the tax measure. As is the case of the Association for the Study of the Territory, Research and Archaeology of Terni, which through Art Bonus donations is carrying out in the archaeological area of Carsulae important restoration work on state-owned assets.”

The geomorphological framework and construction phases

How is the Carsulae area developed? The entire space is characterized by the presence of limestone rocks and karst phenomena, with sinkholes and accumulations of debris materials. All these elements conditioned the construction of the forum and the layout of the public buildings. Geophysical research, conducted by institutions such as the University of Camerino and the National Institute of Geophysics, later allowed the subsurface to be mapped, identifying areas of high strength compatible with the presence of ancient wall structures.

The true footprint of the square extends on an east-west axis, with a length of about 67 meters and short sides varying between 30 and 40 meters. The space is bordered by public buildings, including temples, apsidal rooms and administrative spaces. The architectural evolution of the forum then follows a process of monumentalization that began in Republican times and continued under the Julio-Claudians. Later interventions, including alterations to the apsidal buildings, however, appear to date from the second half of the first century CE.

Problems related to vegetation, biodeterioration and structural gaps in the Capitolium

Prior to restoration, the structures of the Capitolium of Carsulae, exposed to weathering and weedy vegetation, were in an advanced state of deterioration. In fact, the site, located in a rural area without protection from external agents, showed problems common to outdoor archaeological remains. These included the presence of weeds, shrubs and roots that had compromised the stability of the masonry and pavements. In fact, the roots, penetrating into the cracks in the masonry, exerted mechanical pressure that favored the detachment of stone blocks and the fragmentation of plasters. In addition to this, colonization by mosses, lichens and algae contributed to the disintegration of the materials. The lack of routine maintenance then encouraged the accumulation of soil and organic material, which not only aesthetically disfigured the site but also accelerated the chemical degradation of the surfaces.

Another aspect of degradation concerned the masonry, which showed the detachment of numerous stone blocks, especially in the upper rows, due to the loss of the original mortar. The pavements also showed detachments and fractures, with fragmented and unstable surfaces. The Capitolium was also affected by significant gaps, both in the masonry and in the floors. Particularly critical was the collapse in the southeast corner of the perimeter masonry, probably due to accidental subsidence. As a result of all this, anthropogenic tampering was identified, such as a circular hole dug in a strategic point of the structure.

Capitolium construction techniques and modifications over time

During the restoration, the analysis of the structures allowed for an in-depth study of the construction techniques used in the building and the identification of interventions subsequent to its construction such as masonry (stratigraphic analyses revealed that some masonry had different mortars that suggeirted different construction phases. The M1 corner masonry, for example, had been made with a whitish mortar, different from the pinkish mortar of the other structures, indicating a later addition) or the floorings: the Capitolium was originally paved with beaten cement decorated with polychrome marble crustae. The cleaning made it possible to clearly identify the construction stratigraphy, consisting of a layer of hewed stones(statumen), a layer of smaller stones(rudus), a preparation layer(nucleus), and finally the finishing layer(pavimentum).

In addition, post holes dug into the pavements were discovered, probably used to support temporary wooden structures, probably related to the transformation of the Capitolium into a lime kiln. There was also a discovery: in the course of the restoration, a room hypothetically used as a cistern, lined with earthenware plasters and equipped with an underground water channel, was brought to light.

The restoration work on the Capitolium

The restoration was divided into several phases with the aim of ensuring its long-term preservation without altering its archaeological nature. The first phase of the restoration involved the removal of weed vegetation and surface deposits. In fact, a biocide solution was applied to remove mosses, lichens and algae from the surfaces. The most robust weeds were treated with pelargonic acid and glyphosate to ensure their complete devitalization before mechanical removal. Debris and soil accumulated on the structures were removed manually, preserving the original stone elements.

After cleaning, consolidation work was carried out on the walls and floors. The degraded mortars were consolidated with a treatment based on Ledan TA 1, a hydraulic mortar specifically for archaeological structures. The pavements were stabilized by injections of consolidating mortar to prevent the detachment of crustae and gravel while the cistern plasters were consolidated with targeted mortar injections to prevent their further disintegration. The final stages of the restoration involved restoring the masonry and protecting the exposed surfaces: the collapse in the southeast corner was reconstructed using the recovered original stones supplemented with compatible materials, the gaps between the stone blocks were filled with specially formulated mortars to respect the original shades and composition, and a layer of hydraulic mortar with included gravel and coccio pesto was applied to the tops of the masonry to protect them from erosion. The gaps in the pavements, on the other hand, were filled with a sub-level mortar and the post holes were left visible, filled with gravel to declare the archaeological intervention.

The Domus of the Mosaics, an example of a residence in Carsulae.

Between 2017 and 2020, excavations unearthed a large Augustan-era domus located along the southern edge of Carsulae’s forum square. Dubbed the Domus of the Mosaics, the residence represents the first and so far only example of residential architecture identified in Carsulae, as previous research had focused exclusively on public and monumental spaces. Its imposing size (it exceeds 1,000 sq. m.), strategic location next to the forum, the richness of the mosaic decorations and the presence of vast rooms for representation suggest that, in addition to being a private residence, the building also had a prestigious public role in the past.

During the first half of the third century AD, the building underwent partial demolitions, while some of its sections continued to be used until the city was abandoned in the late fourth and early fifth centuries. Although the vertical structures have all but disappeared, numerous floors decorated with fine black-and-white geometric mosaics remain from the Domus of the Mosaics. These decorations are still visible in several rooms, including the atrium, the right wing, the triclinium, the large banquet hall(oecus), the right corridor, the portico of the peristyle, and most likely a second atrium.

The work carried out in collaboration with the A.S.T.R.A. Onlus Association, together with the support of Art Bonus, has thus made it possible to return to the public a more complete view of what the Carsulae area looked like, from the Capitolium to residential structures such as the Domus. The site, now enhanced, continues to tell the story of a city that proudly preserves traces of its past, bearing witness to the cultural and social vitality that once characterized Carsulae. Today, the archaeological area is accessible to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, with opening hours from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the last entrance scheduled for 6 p.m.

The restoration of the Capitolium of Carsulae: a recovery between archaeology and innovation

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