Underground Surveying of the Porticus Minucia as a Basis for the Georeferencing of a Fragment of the Marble Plan of Rome (Forma Urbis marmorea)

Luca Alessandri, Valerio Baiocchi, Marta Baumgartner, Diego Blanco, Alessandro Bosman, Andrea Guaglianone, Felicia Vatore

Abstract

This study presents the results of a high-precision subterranean survey of the remains of the Porticus Minucia in Rome, conducted using advanced GNSS techniques and total station measurements. The collected data enabled accurately mapping the structure’s foundations and alignment within the modern urban context. Crucially, this new dataset has made it possible to confidently georeference a previously unplaced fragment of the Forma Urbis Marmorea, the Severan marble plan of ancient Rome. By aligning architectural features visible on the fragment with the surveyed remains of the Porticus Minucia, we demonstrate a method for integrating archaeological fieldwork with historical cartographic reconstruction. This interdisciplinary approach not only enhances our understanding of the Forma Urbis but also contributes to the broader effort of reconstructing the topography of ancient Rome.

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IMEKO-Metroarchaeo-2025-006.pdf

DOI

10.21014/tc26-2025.006

IMEKO TC

TC26 - Metrology for Cultural Heritage

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