Main research fields:
ANCIENT SEAMANSHIP, AMONG ARCHAEOLOGY, HISTORY AND ETHNOGRAPHY: the research about ancient seamanship, that is techniques and practices in navigation, develops through the comparative analysis of the historical-archaeological and ethnographic data. These latter, investigated by means of a correct methodological approach, provides a very important contribution in order to integrate and clarify informations reported by the written sources, as well as the iconographic and archaeological. Thanks to their practical effectiveness, many primary principles of ancient seamanship have remained more or less unchanged until recently, at least until the sunset of (no-engine) sailing in the first half of the 20th Century. The research activity in this scope is developed since the mid-nineties of last century and takes advantages of the practical experience in sailing with old traditional Adriatic boats.
NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY: research in nautical archaeology focuses on the typology, structure and shipbulding systems, as well as on the rigging, the wrecks formation and lying conditions. It develops both as rusult of archaeological excavations of wrecks (Venice lagoon and sea, Romagna and Marche coasts, Roman, Late-Roman, Late-Medieval and Modern wrecks) and through the study of the nautical iconography. The investigation of iconography mainly relates with the rigging and sails (sails typology and evolution, sailing maneuvers), which represent a specific research line.
LOGBOATS AND INLAND NAVIGATION: research topic developed both on the study of logboat wrecks found in North Italy rivers and lakes and on the historic sources and ethnographic documentation, therefore with a wide chronological range, from prehistoric to ancient times, as wella s from the Middle Ages to modern and even contemporary age. On the basis of hulls typology and structure the functionality of logboats is identified, as boats for navigation as well as elements of complex vessels, like pontoons and floating bridges, and in case as part of structures not related with navigation or flotation, like water canalizations. The research is often developed in cooperation with museums and other institutions preserving logboats. It also includes the investigation about the inland navigation techniques, particularly along the wide lagoon area of northern Adriatic. This context also includes some research topics related to the Venice lagoon archaeology.
VENICE LAGOON ARCHAEOLOGY: the research develops within the underwater archaeology activity carried out for over twenty years in the Venice lagoon within the large public works, including both wrecks (late-medieval and modern age) and different typology of submerged sites. The topic of settlements and exploitation of the lagoon resources mainly concerns Roman Age, late-ancient and early-medieval sites. In this context, the investigation is aimed to study the interaction between man and lagoon environment, the type and functionality of specialized structures found here, the evolution and transformations due to the anthropization and natural phenomena such as eustatism, subsidence and erosion, as well as the methodological matters of underwater investigation in this peculiar environment, also with a view to protecting the sites.
PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF TRADITIONAL MARITIME HERITAGE: research line developed in cooperation with authorities and institutions operating in the field (superintendecies, museums, associations), also in the context of national and international projects. The activity concerns both the material heritage (boats, equipment, rigging) and the intangible one (navigation with old traditional sailing boats) and is also developed through the organization of navigation courses with historic boats, intended to preserve and transmit the principles and techniques of traditional seamanship. The research focuses not only on the nautical context, but also on those related to fishing and, in general, to the behavior and life of sea people.
