Diego Calaon
Diego Dr Calaon
I have been confirmed Doctor in 2006 in “Archaeology and History of the Mediterranean” at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, with a thesis titled ‘Before Venice: lands, waters and settlements: GIS tools for a comprehension of the landscape transformations between Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Age’, the tutor was the Professor Sauro Gelichi. From 2006 up today I am research assistant at the Department of ‘Scienze dell’Antichità e del Vicino Oriente’ focusing my research specifically on the theme ‘The Eastern Venetia: landscape transformations between Late Antiquity and the Middle Age’. Beside the direction of excavation activities, my main interests are focused on landscape archaeology, development of GIS platforms aimed to the historical-territorial transformations analysis. Since 2001 I am in charge of the direction of the Laboratory of Information Tecnology applied to the Centre for Medieval archaeology, at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
Main Reasearch Results:
1. ‘Before Venice’, within a project directed by Sauro Gelichi of the Ca’ Foscari University of
Venice, in which, through the application of GIS technologies, I have reached original results in the
revision of older archaeological data of the Veneto early Middle Age. Particularly works on Altino and Cittanova and on the general interpretation of the lagoon settlements before the Venice rise, have been particularly appreciated by the scientific community. Beside already edited articles a monographic volume is now in progress.
2. ‘Comacchio: An Early Middle Ages Emporium’, I have been responsible of the excavations and of the post excavations analyses for the whole period of the project, under the direction of Sauro Gelichi. The many articles and the participations to conferences, books sections, catalogues, exhibitions and International conference organisations (From one Sea to Another. Trade Centres in the European and Mediterranean Early Middle Ages, Comacchio (I), march 2009) testify the importance of the researches and their international feedback.
3. ‘Stari Bar. Montenegro’. I have since the beginning (2004) directed the works on the field
(excavations, structures analyses, materials analyses) in the StariBar projects (under the direction of Sauro Gelichi). This is the study of an abandoned city in the Southern Dalmatia. The results of the researches are edited in three volumes in english and contain many points of reflection on the study of the city through its Byzantine, Slavic, Venetian and Ottoman phases.
Mail to: calaon@unive.it
I have been confirmed Doctor in 2006 in “Archaeology and History of the Mediterranean” at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, with a thesis titled ‘Before Venice: lands, waters and settlements: GIS tools for a comprehension of the landscape transformations between Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Age’, the tutor was the Professor Sauro Gelichi. From 2006 up today I am research assistant at the Department of ‘Scienze dell’Antichità e del Vicino Oriente’ focusing my research specifically on the theme ‘The Eastern Venetia: landscape transformations between Late Antiquity and the Middle Age’. Beside the direction of excavation activities, my main interests are focused on landscape archaeology, development of GIS platforms aimed to the historical-territorial transformations analysis. Since 2001 I am in charge of the direction of the Laboratory of Information Tecnology applied to the Centre for Medieval archaeology, at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
Main Reasearch Results:
1. ‘Before Venice’, within a project directed by Sauro Gelichi of the Ca’ Foscari University of
Venice, in which, through the application of GIS technologies, I have reached original results in the
revision of older archaeological data of the Veneto early Middle Age. Particularly works on Altino and Cittanova and on the general interpretation of the lagoon settlements before the Venice rise, have been particularly appreciated by the scientific community. Beside already edited articles a monographic volume is now in progress.
2. ‘Comacchio: An Early Middle Ages Emporium’, I have been responsible of the excavations and of the post excavations analyses for the whole period of the project, under the direction of Sauro Gelichi. The many articles and the participations to conferences, books sections, catalogues, exhibitions and International conference organisations (From one Sea to Another. Trade Centres in the European and Mediterranean Early Middle Ages, Comacchio (I), march 2009) testify the importance of the researches and their international feedback.
3. ‘Stari Bar. Montenegro’. I have since the beginning (2004) directed the works on the field
(excavations, structures analyses, materials analyses) in the StariBar projects (under the direction of Sauro Gelichi). This is the study of an abandoned city in the Southern Dalmatia. The results of the researches are edited in three volumes in english and contain many points of reflection on the study of the city through its Byzantine, Slavic, Venetian and Ottoman phases.
Mail to: calaon@unive.it
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Books by Diego Calaon
A project between Archaeology and Archaeometry.
The activities of archaeological excavation, archaeometric analysis and restoration carried out during the Torcello 2012 Project represent a central objective of the Interreg Project: ‘Shared Culture’.
In Torcello archaeologists, archaeometrists and restorers worked in unison from November 2012 to March 2013 on a modern archaeological site with the objective of accurately reconstructing the archaeological past of the Island. The excavation served as a locus of highly scientific training for young cultural heritage workers.
While the project was clearly interdisciplinary, the skills and professionalism of each working group remained distinct and independent. The high level of specific knowledge (both in terms of theoretical background and in terms of operating techniques acquired with excavation or laboratory practice) included a wealth of essential specialist experience.
The 2012-3 Torcello excavation project has been, without doubt, an innovative test case where archaeologists and finds specialists have met for discussions, sharing distinct knowledge and techniques from the outset, as part of a unified pilot project. One of the aims at the heart of the project was that of verifying – through the field operations of a complex archaeological excavation and in-built interdisciplinarity – the possibility of implementing ‘good practices’ of research starting from initial excavation, by introducing the term ‘archaeological first aid’ into the discipline’s lexicon. This term is intended to indicate the feasibility of studying distinct actions, designed to capture as much information as possible during excavation, which can be scientifically analysed, relative to stratigraphy and finds.
The research will develop a new archaeological viewpoint, including a comprehensive environmental approach. It will help to implements innovative methods for re-interpret the formation of the new settlements in the Venetian lagoons between Late Antiquity and Early Middle ages.
New theoretical approaches has been developed, informed from the new tendencies of the social studies. The project shifted from European current model where Material Culture has been used to develop historical models, suitable for the explanation of the major past events, to a different ecological and anthropological approach. Giving special attention to the physical processes in which the “things” of the past (artifacts, landscapes, technologies) have been exposed, archaeological and environmental data has been interrogated for knowing how ancient and present Torcello societies have been entrapped into the maintenance and sustaining of a very specific material world.
Catalogo della Mostra Archeologica (Comacchio, FE).
Il catalogo accompagna la mostra dedicata all’Isola del Vescovo (Comacchio, sede episcopale fino alla inclusione nel 1986 nella diocesi di Ferrara) e agli scavi archeologici intorno alla Cattedrale, intervento effettuato in occasione di un progetto di riqualificazione urbana, il risanamento e il recupero del sagrato del Duomo. I risultati ottenuti sono particolarmente significativi e hanno permesso l’acquisizione di importanti dati sull’origine dell’insediamento, sulla fondazione dell’episcopio e sulla vita dell’emporio comacchiese nell’Alto medioevo. Da segnalare il ritrovamento di un impianto di produzione vetraria, databile al VII secolo, quando si cominciano a percepire i segni di un insediamento veramente stabile."
Papers by Diego Calaon
A project between Archaeology and Archaeometry.
The activities of archaeological excavation, archaeometric analysis and restoration carried out during the Torcello 2012 Project represent a central objective of the Interreg Project: ‘Shared Culture’.
In Torcello archaeologists, archaeometrists and restorers worked in unison from November 2012 to March 2013 on a modern archaeological site with the objective of accurately reconstructing the archaeological past of the Island. The excavation served as a locus of highly scientific training for young cultural heritage workers.
While the project was clearly interdisciplinary, the skills and professionalism of each working group remained distinct and independent. The high level of specific knowledge (both in terms of theoretical background and in terms of operating techniques acquired with excavation or laboratory practice) included a wealth of essential specialist experience.
The 2012-3 Torcello excavation project has been, without doubt, an innovative test case where archaeologists and finds specialists have met for discussions, sharing distinct knowledge and techniques from the outset, as part of a unified pilot project. One of the aims at the heart of the project was that of verifying – through the field operations of a complex archaeological excavation and in-built interdisciplinarity – the possibility of implementing ‘good practices’ of research starting from initial excavation, by introducing the term ‘archaeological first aid’ into the discipline’s lexicon. This term is intended to indicate the feasibility of studying distinct actions, designed to capture as much information as possible during excavation, which can be scientifically analysed, relative to stratigraphy and finds.
The research will develop a new archaeological viewpoint, including a comprehensive environmental approach. It will help to implements innovative methods for re-interpret the formation of the new settlements in the Venetian lagoons between Late Antiquity and Early Middle ages.
New theoretical approaches has been developed, informed from the new tendencies of the social studies. The project shifted from European current model where Material Culture has been used to develop historical models, suitable for the explanation of the major past events, to a different ecological and anthropological approach. Giving special attention to the physical processes in which the “things” of the past (artifacts, landscapes, technologies) have been exposed, archaeological and environmental data has been interrogated for knowing how ancient and present Torcello societies have been entrapped into the maintenance and sustaining of a very specific material world.
Catalogo della Mostra Archeologica (Comacchio, FE).
Il catalogo accompagna la mostra dedicata all’Isola del Vescovo (Comacchio, sede episcopale fino alla inclusione nel 1986 nella diocesi di Ferrara) e agli scavi archeologici intorno alla Cattedrale, intervento effettuato in occasione di un progetto di riqualificazione urbana, il risanamento e il recupero del sagrato del Duomo. I risultati ottenuti sono particolarmente significativi e hanno permesso l’acquisizione di importanti dati sull’origine dell’insediamento, sulla fondazione dell’episcopio e sulla vita dell’emporio comacchiese nell’Alto medioevo. Da segnalare il ritrovamento di un impianto di produzione vetraria, databile al VII secolo, quando si cominciano a percepire i segni di un insediamento veramente stabile."
La collezione contiene dei magnifici esempi di vere da pozzo, datate tra IX e XI secolo. Per la loro qualità di esecuzione, per la rarità e unicità tipologica e per il fatto che rappresentano un unicum della scultura preromanica o carolingia applicata all’ambito civile (in genere si conservano arredi liturgici e le decorazioni architettoniche di edifici religiosi), si possono considerare a buon diritto il vanto della raccolta. Alla collezione si sono aggiunti una serie di materiali provenienti da un celebre scavo archeologico della fine del XIX secolo, operato in seguito a sistemazioni di bonifica e di conterminazione lagunare presso il sito del monastero altomedievale di Sant’Ilario, collocato oggi poco lontano da Dogaletto di Mira.
La collezione, in linea generale, denuncia una eccezionale adesione alla cultura artistica carolingia nel momento della formazione della città di Venezia nel IX secolo
In the framework of the cataloguing activity, PArSJAd project, in agreement with the direction of the National Archaeological Museum of Venice, we proceeded to update and complete the cataloguing of the corpus of early medieval and medieval carved materials in storage at the museum. The materials, most of which are of exceptional rarity and quality, may be dated from the 6th/7th to the 11th century.
The collection features magnificent examples of wellheads, dated between the 9th and 11th century. Because of their quality of execution, rarity, and typological uniqueness, and the fact that they represent a unique specimen of pre-Romanesque or Carolingian sculpture applied to civil engineering (typically, liturgical furniture and architectural decorations of religious buildings are conserved), they can be rightly considered the pride of the collection. A set of materials from a famous archaeological excavation of the late 19th century was added to the collection; following arrangements having to do with land reclamation and lagoon boundaries, the excavation had been performed at the site of the early medieval monastery of Sant’Ilario, today located not far from Dogaletto di Mira.
Generally speaking, this collection clearly belongs to Carolingian art and culture, which ruled during the time of formation of the city of Venice in the 9th century.
Secondo la tradizione storica locale laTorre delle Bebbe sarebbe stata eretta, alla difesa delle Venetie all’epoca del doge Deusdedit nel 742-745. L’idea di identificare le Bebbe con l’antico castello di VIII secolo, è suggerita al Bellemo a metà del XIX secolo. I materiali raccolti, però, e il contesto archeologico escluderebbe questa datazione.
E’possibile attribuire almeno cinque diverse funzioni al sito, attraverso una lettura interpretativa dei diversi gruppi di materiali rinvenuti. E’ una torre con funzioni militari, attestate da numerosi proiettili di arma da fuoco e immanicature di armi bianche. Assolve a funzioni di dogana e di punto di “passo commerciale”, funzioni testimoniate dalle monete, dalle bolle ducali/vescovili e da tessere mercantili. E’ residenza per un membro dell’esercito di alto rango, come si evince dalla qualità dei vetri e delle ceramiche raccolte. Il ruolo di “passo”, relative al passaggio dei pellegrini, è testimoniato da un buon numero di immagini sacre riconducibili alla tipologia delle insegne per pellegrini: immagini di santi, croci, anelli. Le attività, invece, più legate alla tipologia dell'ambiente circostante, ovvero la pesca e la caccia, sono largamente testimoniate da numerosi piombi da rete, una serie di pesi da lenza, ami da pesca e più di 100 proiettili in terracotta per la caccia con l’arco.
The Chioggia Museum is showcasing an exceptional exhibit of archaeological material recovered over several instances
at Torre delle Bebbe excavation site. This tower can be found in the Ca’ Bianca hamlet, south of Ca’ Pasqua by the Gorzone canal.
The ‘Fossa Clodia’ Archaeological Group conducted several surveys in this site, recovering a large number of materials from the Middle Ages and some from the Roman Age. Some of these materials, consisting of metal, glass, and stone objects, are in such a good state of preservation as to allow for speculation about the site’s functions and chronology, to be dated from the 12th to the 17th century,with the late 15th century being its peak time of activity.
According to local lore, the Torre of Bebbe was erected in defence of the Venetie during doge Deusdedit’s time in 742-745 AD. In the
mid-nineteenth century, Bellemo suggested the idea of identifying Bebbe with the ancient eighth-century castle. However, our collected materials and archaeological framework would exclude the possibility of such dating.
By interpreting the differing sets of materials found, it is possible to assign at least five different functions to this site. This tower had military functions, attested by several bullets from firearms and hilts of blades. It was the site of a customs office, as well as a place of business; these functions are testified by the coins found along with ducal/episcopal edicts and merchant cards. It served as residence for a high-ranking member of the military, as evidenced by the quality of glass and ceramics collected. It also played the role of a passage for pilgrims, as testified by a good number of sacred icons ascribable to typical signs for pilgrims, such as images of saints, crosses, and rings.
Other activities such as fishing and hunting were related to the surrounding environment, and may be easily ascertained through the presence of numerous fishing net weights, a set of fishing rod weights, fishing hooks, and more than 100 terracotta bullets for bow hunting.
The scientific work of Boskovic remains fodamental to this excavation and still innovative in many of its methodological approaches. Boskovic aimed to bring to light the history of this forgotten Montenegrinian town, and in the process produced an analytical and complete study of its material structures, a rare endeavour during that period. The only work missing front his analysis was a proper study of the archaeology which was not possible at that time. To restart the archaeological project at Stari Bar began with a study of Boskovic s work and the plan of the settlement, which was already partially completed (in the meantime new clearances and excavations had brought to light districts that were buried in Boskovic time and had not therefore been documented, such as buildings I 43-146}, plus an assessment of the buried and standing archaeological features. Research campaigns then began, on standing buildings as well as buried features, with the two-fold aim of better understanding the long durée of the settlement sequence and the social changes as seen through the material culture of the site. In fact Stari Bar was (and is) very well suited to such analysis on the impact of political and social change over time and space and variations in the behaviours of the various communities who lived in the town and how they expressed their identities. Nonetheless there were some difficulties, due largely to the preservation of the buried layers and standing buildings, which had been heavily altered over time through natural and human activities, including the recent restoration works.
This volume essentially reports on research carried out in a very specifi area of the settlement, within the medieval town, but possibly outside the Byzantine settlement (a series of buildings in the southern area near the curtain walls: rooms 8-9 and the church of St. Catherine}. The aim was to analyze the evolution of an urban area from its birth through the Ottoman phases (previously unpublished). During 2006 a preliminary report was published with regards to this group of buildings and the report here completes that task with a study of the materials from those rooms (including the pottery}, faunal remains, the architectuml complex (including the church), some fibulae, a preliminary analysis of written documentation about Stari Bar an evaluation of the archaeological resources of the surrounding territory and finally a report on olive oil production during the Ottoman period.
The team of2006, under my direction, included Michela Babhini, Corinna Bagato, Silvia Cadamuro, Diego Calaon, Erica D’Amico, Annamaria Delmonte, Cristina Falla, Margherita Ferri, Alessandra Forti. Speranza Fresia, Elena Grandi, Ester Zanichelli, of the University of Ca’ Foscari in Venice: Miguel Bru Castro of the University Autonoma of Madrid; Mladen Zagarcanin ofthe Museum of Bar; Alexander Pluskowski and Krish Seetah of the University of Cambridge; Deian Draslzovic, Milos Zivanovic and Petra Zdravlcovic of Bar
The team of 2007. under my direction, included Michela Bahlnni, Annamaria Delmonte and Claudio Negrelli of the University of Ca` Foscari in Venice; Mladen Zagaréanin and Goran Pajovic of the Museum of Bar.
The site of Stari Bar (Antivari - Old Bar) represents undoubtedly an extraordinarily interesting archaeological site, first of all for the degree of preservation of the material remains. A village destroyed and abandoned during the Montenegrin Independence War gives us a picture, even if in ruins, of a small fossil town: with its streets, its palaces, its houses, its churches and monasteries, its mosques and its baths. A site whose archaeological potential stopped in 1870 AD.
This book, like the first one on Stari Bar; remains a collection of papers. A group of articles focus on topics connected with the areas excavated in 2005 (UTS 45, UTS 112 and UTS 8b), a paper presents the archaeozoological analysis of context from the trench of 2004 (UTS 161) and another one gives a wide overview of stone working in Bar through the centuries. An article then aims to give a preliminary interpretation of the settlement sequence of the area, through the collation of new data and pre-existing archaeological knowledge.
The team of 200.5, under my direction, was constituted by Corinna Bagato, Fulvio Baudo, Diego Calaon, Erica D’Amico, Cristina Falla, Speranza Fresia, Alessandro Gasparin and Elena Grandi of the University of Ca` Foscari in Venice; by Mladen Zagarcanin of the Museum of Bar: by Aleksander Pluskowski and Krish Seetah of the University of Cambridge; by Milos Petrivecic of the University of Beograd.
The project was funded by the European Union (Culture 2000. The Heritage of Serenissirna), the Ministero degli Esteri Italiano (MAE) and by Region Veneto. In this occasion we want to express our gratitude to those that have helped and supported this mission also in 2005. For the Montenegrin side the Minister of Culture Mrs Vesna Kilibarda, the Chief of Cultural Heritage Mr Slobodan Mitrovic, the Mayor of the Municipality of Bar in 2005 Mrs Anka Vojvodic, the director of the Center for Culture of Bar Mr Milun Lutovac, the curator of the Museum of Bar Mr Vladislav Kasalika and the conservator of the archaeological area of Bar Mr Omer Perocevic. For the Italian side the Consul for Montenegro in 2005, Mrs Valentina Setta, the dean of the University Ca ’ Foscari Mr Pierfrancesco Ghetti, the functionaries of Regione Veneto, our colleague Gilberto Calderoni of the Laboratory of Earth Science of University "La Sapienza " of Rome for the C 14 analysis and our colleague Paolo Biagi of University of Ca ’ Foscari in Venice for his help with the micro-lithics of the site.