Un GIS per la conoscenza della laguna di Venezia in età romana e altomedievale

Within the framework of the CHANGES project, the research team from the Department of Humanities at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice conducted an extensive study of the archaeological landscape in the northern Venetian Lagoon. The investigation focused on several submerged Roman contexts, including presumed embankments constructed with reused amphorae and a 1st-century AD oyster cultivation pool (vivarium) associated with a high-status villa. The latter site was systematically explored through multiple underwater excavation campaigns. The archaeological data gathered during these activities were integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS). This platform incorporates spatial data on Roman and Early Medieval sites, historical cartography, and environmental datasets. The system synthesises existing bibliographic records of well-documented contexts with primary data recently acquired through new field investigations. Given the functional relationship between these lagoonal sites and the nearby Roman municipium of Altinum, the GIS also includes data on the municipium to better understand its “diffuse harbour” system. This digital tool has played a crucial role not only in the storage of heterogeneous data but also in their management, spatial analysis, and interpretation. Furthermore, by enabling comparative analysis, the GIS has become essential for monitoring the preservation status of submerged archaeological remains. To promote public engagement and ensure the accessibility of the lagoon’s rich cultural heritage, a simplified version of the project has been made available via an online platform.