The new archaeological excavation campaign in the Sanctuaries of the ancient city of Locri Epizefiri will begin on September 2 with preliminary investigation activities. The project, financed by the Ministry of Culture and desired by the general director Massimo Osanna, is carried out by the Regional Directorate of Museums Calabria, with the scientific direction of Prof. Filippo Demma, and with the scientific support of the Department of History, Cultures and Civilizations and the School of Specialization in Archaeology of the University of Bologna, directed by Prof. Elisabetta Govi. The collaboration is part of the activities envisaged by the Agreement for scientific research activities, enhancement and improvement of the enjoyment of the heritage pertaining to the Regional Directorate of Museums Calabria, signed last April with the Emilian university.
«The archaeological investigations, aimed at improving the knowledge, accessibility and enjoyment of the ancient polis – it is specified in a note – will focus on two of the most important Locrian sanctuaries, that of the Themosmophorion and that of the Temple of Marasà». In the first case, the archaeological excavations will have the aim of recovering the original boundaries of the sacred area «with the aim of improving the understanding of the entire structure and clarifying the relationships with the nearby sacred complexes. At the Temple of Marasà a test will be carried out in an area never before investigated with stratigraphic methodology».
«An educational site will be set up – continues the Regional Directorate of Museums of Calabria – with the presence of students from the University of Bologna that will follow the principles of public archaeology and will also be open to the public, who will be informed of the progress of the investigations also with periodic conferences and posts on the mission’s social media».
“The great work of bringing the history of Magna Graecia to light continues also in the field of archaeological excavations – underlines the director Filippo Demma – it is the sign of the new course that invests the cultural heritage and places of culture of Calabria. The collaboration with a university of excellence such as the Alma Mater Bolognese is a qualifying point of the project, which will also allow the training of young archaeologists in one of the most interesting contexts of the Mediterranean”.