The untold story of Crustumerium: 3D exploration of an archaeological mound near Rome (video)

Crustumerium was an ancient city some 15 km north of Rome, figuring prominently in many of the events related to Rome’s earliest history. Between ca. 850 and 500 BC, the settlement flourished, as shown by large public buildings, monumental defensive works, and thousands of tombs, often containing precious jewellery and elaborate ceramic shapes. Around 500 BC, the city was taken by Rome, completely abandoned and largely forgotten until its location was rediscovered in the 1970s. The former city remains uninhabited to this day.

Even after some 2500 years, a man-made mound on the border between the settlement and its burial grounds stands out in the landscape. Excavations by the University of Groningen and the Italian Archaeological Service reveal that it holds the key to the story of the rise and fall of Crustumerium. The excavation team realised that the mound can only be analysed and rendered comprehensible through advanced digital techniques. To achieve a proper archaeological interpretation of the monument, the team has started to explore the potential of the data in an accurate 3D environment.