The Roman maritime harbour of Portus, begun by Claudius to combat the silting up of Ostia, is today immersed in the landscape around Fiumicino airport, at the mouth of the river Tiber. The geophysics work around Trajan’s harbour began in 1998, and has since been completed.

Geophysical survey results of the area immediately south of the Darsena, Portus

The magnetometry results revealed:

• A plan of the ‘Imperial Palace’ and its associated warehouses
• A series of warehouses fronting the port
• A part of the massive defensive wall circuit
• The port’s major aqueduct, the location of which was previously unknown
  o Details of buildings to the southwest of the harbour, surrounding the basilica site and lining the canal which connects the harbour to the Fosse Traiana
• More evidence for land reclaimation and property divisions at the confluence of the Tiber and Fossa Traiana.

Further details about the research undertaken at Portus and virtual reconstructions of the ports can be found on the web pages of the University of Southampton.

Publications:

Keay, S. 2001. Gateway to Rome. British Archaeology 57: 20-23

Keay, S. and Millett, M. (Forthcoming 2006), Portus and Rome's Maritime Façade, in R. Hohlfelder (ed.), The Maritime World of Ancient Rome. Memoirs of the American Academy at Rome.

Keay, S., Millett, M., Paroli, L. and Strutt, K. (2005), Portus. An Archaeological Survey of the Port of Imperial Rome. Archaeological Monographs of the British School at Rome 15. London.

Keay, S., Millett, M. and Strutt, K. 2004. Portus Romae: recent suvey work at the ports of Claudius and Trajan. In A. Gallina Zevi and R. Turchetti (eds) Le Strutture dei Porti e degli Approdi Antichi. ANSER Anciennes Routes Maritimes Mediterraneennes. Rubbettino; Catanzaro.

Interim reports:

Millett, M. and Keay, S. 2000. Survey work at Portus 1999. Papers of the British School at Rome 68: 401-402

Millett, M. and Keay, S. 2001. Survey work at Portus 2000. Papers of the British School at Rome 69: 410-413

Millett, M. and Keay, S. 2001. Tiber Valley Towns Project 2000. Papers of the British School at Rome 69: 410-413

Millett, M. and Keay, S. 2003. Tiber Valley Towns: fieldwork in 2002. Papers of the British School at Rome 71: 317-8

The project was carried out in collaboration with the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Ostia, with the kind support of the Soprintendente Anna Gallina Zevi, and Dott.ssa Lidia Parioli.