Archeologia in archivio. I fondi fotografici delle Soprintendenze e il caso di Ostia Antica

Abstract

Archives are essential for archaeological research. In an archaeological archive, for example, it is possible to trace information on a site that no longer exists, or on an unpublished or partially published context. The archives are not only useful for study and research, but also for the actions of protection, restoration and enhancement of the heritage. In fact, the archaeological archives are very heterogeneous documentary complexes, which differ in consistency, conditions and methods of conservation and type of documentation. In particular, the photographic archives of the Superintendencies have a heritage of exceptional documentary value, relating to more than one hundred years of activities carried out in the archaeological, architectural, historical-artistic, landscape and demoethnoanthropological field throughout the national territory. An example is the Archivio Fotografico Ostiense founded by Dante Vaglieri in 1908.

Keywords: Archaeology, Photographic Archives, Dante Vaglieri, Ostia