The Submerged Maritime Archaeological Heritage of the Roman Era along the Italian Mid-Adriatic Coast (Marche, Italy). Intervento in INTERNATIONAL MEDITERRANEAN SURVEY WORKSHOP – FALL 2022 - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 2nd–3rd December 2022

The maritime archaeological heritage along the western mid-Adriatic coast, now corresponding to the Marche coast of central Italy, has been investigated since the later twentieth century. The Soprintendenza Archeologica delle Marche has led research in collaboration with the University of Macerata (Marche) and the Italian Navy. This, and occasional finds by sport divers and fishermen, has resulted in the discovery of numerous archaeological finds along the coast and beyond territorial waters, ranging from prehistoric times to the early Middle Ages. Despite maritime finds from coastal towns such as Fano, Ancona, Focara, S.Benedetto del Tronto the maritime heritage of the Roman era is still poorly understood. The Soprintendenza and the University will present the key results of recent research, which has brought to light evidence of rich and significant submerged deposits of the Roman era along the Marche coast in the Augustan Picenum and Adriatic Umbria regiones. Our goal is to better understand, with the aid of more sophisticated survey techniques, the colonial and municipal organization of this coastline, the connecting roads, sea routes, and contacts with other Adriatic coastlines and the rest of the Adriatic basin.