Date: Tuesday, 12 February 2019
The University of Insubria collaborates with the Italian archaeological mission that for about a year has been excavating in Eritrea to bring to light the ancient city of Adulis, considered the "African Pompeii", as part of a project launched in 2008 by the brothers varesini Angelo and Alfredo Castiglioni , famous anthropologists-archaeologists (unfortunately Alfredo missed in 2016). In 2018 an agreement was signed between the Research Center in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology of the University , directed by Ilaria Gorini and coordinated by Marta Licata, and the Ce.RDO Research Center Oriental Desert founded by the Castiglioni. Doctoral student Omar Larentis leaves for Adulis on 8 February and for about a month he will participate in the recovery and study of the skeletons found in the surroundings of the ancient city.
Adulis was a very rich port of the kingdom of Axum and in the 7th century AD it was destroyed by a flood that covered it with a thick blanket of mud. Only at the end of the 19th century an expedition of the British Museum brought to light a large Christian basilica. In the '900 there were the excavations of the archaeologist Roberto Paribeni. And then the site was again abandoned and covered by sand, until the intervention of the Castiglioni brothers. Their hypothesis is that the area where Adulis rises can be connected to the Land of Punt, mentioned in the Bible as the region inhabited by the descendants of Cam, son of Noah.
The excavations , started for several years, last about a month: they are directed by the archaeologist Serena Massa, of the Catholic University of Milan. So far only 1% of a city covering about 40 hectares has emerged and three early Christian basilicas have been found, an interesting testimony because Adulis was outside the borders of the Roman Empire. The Western Gate of the city was also found, where the legendary Adonis Marble Throne, now lost, was located.
The Italian mission is supported by the Research Center on the Eastern Desert (Ce.RDO), founded by the same brothers Castiglioni, the Italian Foreign Ministry and a private group. The Eritrean authorities provide logistics and local labor. The scientific staff and technical equipment are organized by: Politecnico di Milano, Catholic University, Oriental University of Naples, Pontifical Institute of Christian Archeology and now also Insubria University of Varese.
Omar Larentis is a PhD student in the Experimental Medicine and Medical Humanities course at the University of Insubria. In addition, he is a member of the Research Center in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology and works as a bioarchaeologist, physical anthropologist and paleopathologist. It helps to rebuild the ancient burial rites and restore an identity to the skeletons, allowing them to know their sex, their age, the pathologies they suffered and the food they fed on.
The Research Center , based in Varese, is directed by Ilaria Gorini. The coordinator of the activity is Marta Licata, who is scientific technician of the Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences of Insubria (director Luigi Valdatta), as well as professor of Archeobiology, of Physical Anthropology and of History of Medicine. The medical historians of our University have worked with their expertise on archaeological sites since 1997. Now the Research Center promotes and directs excavations of ancient cemeteries in different churches in the insubriated territory.
Bioarchaeology, anthropology and paleopathology laboratories have been set up directly on the discovery sites. University students of Medicine, Biotechnology, Motor Sciences and Communication Sciences participate in the survey campaigns. The excavations will reopen in spring and expect good scientific results.