Ricerc@Sapienza

This work refers to an interdisciplinary study on the archaeological site of
Pyrgi, an Etruscan harbour still under excavation, located on the Lazio’s coast in Santa
Severa, in the province of Rome. The site in question is subject to frequent flooding which
compromises its accessibility and delays the archaeological excavation operations. The
study is based on the combined use of geomatic technologies, meteorological and climatic
models, and hydrogeological knowledge of the examined site, to have a global view of the

The sinkhole known as 'Pozzo del Merro' possesses unusual, geological and natural features, providing an important opportunity to study the geological and hydrological characteristics of the area, and, at the same time, to preserve an ecosystem inhabited by rare species. The site has been the object of numerous studies carried out by scholars from a wide range of disciplines, but a true morphological survey has not been performed until now due to logistical difficulties that include the lack of adequate measuring positions and the difficulty of establishing a clear view between points.