Soil spoliation: evidence of spoliating soil in the 9th - 10th centuries at the Forum of Caesar, Rome

Abstract

The thesis will focus on several infills of spoliated soil and material from the recent excavations on the Forum of Caesar. As a result of the excavation in a domus terrinee (Fig. 1), infills of dark, muddy soils with little to no material was attending between layers with a high concentration of Late Roman material (4th-6th centuries AD). Both infills are dated between the 9th and 10th centuries AD based on Medieval ceramics found within. This study investigates spoliation as a secondary context occurring in a contemporary Medieval setting. On this basis, three methodological approaches have been chosen as part of the interdisciplinary studies of the Danish-Italian investigations on the Forum of Caesar. With a combination of traditional archaeological investigations, soil examinations and digital analysis, this study seeks to understand the impact of spoliation, on the basis of soil formation and archaeological remains. From these analyses it can be concluded that the reoccurring Dark Earth formation has been caused based on the impact of floods or severe water flow, yet also due to spoliation of soil. The archaeological remains are also evidence of a more specific reuse of material remains. Moreover, it has become clear that what can be observed in the profiles (e.g., Dark Earth and material) does not constitute a specific phase of flooding, such require the results of the micromorphological analysis. This study of spoliation offers great insight into the resources available and used in the Medieval period.