La scoperta del porto di Neapolis: dalla ricostruzione topografica allo scavo e al recupero dei relitti

The archaeological excavations, accomplished in the south-western area of the city of Naples for the construction of the Underground Line 1, allowed the coast landscape evolution between Neapolis and Partenope to be pointed out, from Greek age to the century constructions. The research showed that an uniterrupted big cove lied between the Municipio Square and Bovio Square; it was used as a port from at least the end of the iv-first half of the iii century B.C. to the v century A.D. beginning. This work presents preliminary results of the port excavation in Municipio Square in terms of topographic reconstruction, stratigraphic sequence of the sea bottoms together with the analytic description of three wrecks and the harbour equipments that were found there. The methodologies employed for the excavation and the recovery of both, ships and organic evidences are presented too. Finally, the first results of naval archaeological study of the wrecks and the diagnostic investigations on wood are exhibited.