Apr. 23 – The archaeological activities of the University of Macerata, initiated in 1968 by Professor Antonino di Vita, have led to important results in scientific terms: the restoration of the mausoleum B of Sabratha and of the Leptis Magna Severan Arch, as well as the publication of the studies in Leptis and Sabratha. The Marche univerisity has also been cooperating with the Italian School of Archaeology in Athens on systematic research in the city of Gortyn, Crete, where the university is engaged in the excavation of the Byzantine quarter. In Albania, since 2005, the University of Macerata has been carrying out a large enhancement project that allowed for the beginning of investigations in the Roman city of Hadrianopolis and in the Drino valley, contributing to the creation of the Park Plan of the city and to the restoration and renovation of the theater. In the same theater, the Sferisterio Association is now holding shows. This long and valuable work is the main discussion point of a conference scheduled for today in the main hall of the university, dedicated to the archaeological research conducted by the university, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Maeci). The meeting is part of the initiatives related to the exhibition “Archeology and epigraphy in Macerata. Fifty years of research,” held at Palazzo Buonaccorsi until April 26. The focus is on the major excavation, restoration and enhancement projects of the university at Leptis Magna and Sabratha in Libya, the valley of Hadrianopolis Drino in Albania, Gortyn (Crete) in Greece, and Althiburos in Tunisia. Some of these missions were carried out with the support of Maeci and, in some cases, the Marche Region; others fit within scientific research conducted by several European countries and the United States. Professor Ettore Janulardo (Head of the Archeology Section at the Maeci) has the task of providing an Italian archaeological policy framework for activities abroad, with particular attention to the Macro-adriatic Region, within which are included the initiatives supported by the Marche Region in the region (led by Raymond Orsetti), and in development cooperation, coordinated by Luigino Peloni. (Red)
