The CLaRMaV project addresses a critical gap in understanding Roman maritime villas across Mediterranean provinces during the Roman period (1st century BC - 5th century AD). While Italian examples are well-studied, provincial maritime villas remain poorly documented, limiting our comprehension of architectural transfer, environmental adaptation, and economic networks across the Roman Empire.
The project systematically documents and analyses 48 maritime villas supported by a sufficient documentation (including plans) across nine Mediterranean provinces (Croatia, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, Malta, North Africa, and the Levant), examining three core objectives: (1) identifying architectural models and their regional variations, (2) assessing environmental impacts and natural resource exploitation, particularly water management, and (3) determining economic roles through production activities.
By creating an integrated database combining literary sources, GIS mapping, architectural analysis, and field documentation, the project reveals how Roman domestic architecture adapted to diverse Mediterranean landscapes while maintaining cultural continuity. The research demonstrates that provincial villas served primarily productive functions—including fish farming, olive oil production, and maritime commerce—contrasting with the leisure-focused Italian counterparts.
Expected impacts encompass the advancement of interdisciplinary archaeological methodologies through the integration of digital humanities, fostering innovative approaches to heritage analysis. The project aims to inform, where feasible, coastal heritage management strategies for at-risk sites, thereby contributing valuable insights to the preservation of endangered cultural landscapes. Additionally, it seeks to enrich broader scholarly discussions on cultural transmission and environmental sustainability within ancient societies, offering new perspectives grounded in empirical research.
Furthermore, the initiative will bolster European research capacity in classical archaeology by fostering international collaborative networks that extend across Mediterranean research institutions and beyond. This collaborative framework not only enhances knowledge exchange but also positions the researcher for a permanent academic appointment in Italy, supporting long-term institutional development and academic excellence in the field.
