The Historical and Cultural Memory of the Aurelian Walls: The Archaeological Survey from Ancient Maps to Contemporary Techniques

Abstract

The work starts from the analysis and comparison of the study of Roman archaeological structures present in historical maps, starting with Bufalini’s Map of Rome (1551) and then continuing with the study of Nolli’s (1748) and Lanciani’s one (1901). From the analysis of these maps, a method has been developed for the realization of a contemporary cartography of the Roman archaeologies, choosing, as a case study, that of the Aurelian Walls, from which a three-dimensional survey has been started by using of the Laser Scanner, with the aim of studying the relationship of these archaeological elements with the spaces of present-day Rome. The aim of the study is to detect the transformations that have taken place around the wall throughout history, including the topography, and to highlight the current relationship between public space and ancient architecture.