Clementina Panella
Encyclopedia
Clementina Panella is an Italian archaeologist, a professor at the University of Rome La Sapienza
, where she teaches Methodology of Archaeology. Though none of her publications are available in English, she has guided and co-written a number of articles on the commercial pottery of ancient Italy.
Panella's contribution has been in the field of modern amphora
studies, which combine careful observation, quantification and intensive research. She published her analysis of the amphoras from excavation at the baths at Ostia in Studi Miscellanei 13 (1968), 16 (1972), and especially 21 (1973). She has contributed to four major conferences which set the standard for amphora studies today: Recherches sur les amphores romaines, CollEFR 10 (Rome 1972); Méthodes classiques et méthodes formelles dans l'étude des amphores, CollEFR 32 (Rome 1977); Recherches sur les amphores grècques, BCH Suppl. 13 (Paris 1986) and Amphores romaines et histoire économique: Dix ans de recherche, CollEFR 114 (Rome 1989). She worked at Carthage in the early years of the UNESCO archaeological project there.
In addition, she prepared the conclusions of the symposium on sixth and seventh century ceramics in Italy that was held at Rome in honour of John W. Hayes, published as Ceramica in Italia: VI-VII secolo: Atti del Convengo in onore di John W. Hayes, Roma 11-13 maggio 1995, L. Sagui, editor (Florence: Edizioni All’Insegna del Giglio, in series Biblioteca di Archeologia Medievale 14) 1998.
Her continuing interest in the testimony contributed by ancient amphoras, their imprinted bullae of manufacture and the traces of the goods they carried, were reflected in her contribution to The Ancient Economy, 2002 She is often called upon to provide dates for amphorae found at otherwise hard-to-date sites, such as shipwreck
s.
In excavations under her direction west of the Colosseum
and on the northeast slopes of the Palatine Hill
in Rome, the foundations of the Meta Sudans
, a fountain of the Augustan era, were uncovered, together with other remains dating from the Late Republic through the Flavian eras. Nearby, on the lower slopes of the Palatine, her recent excavations showed traces of religious cult dating as far back as the late seventh century BCE.
With Patrizio Pensabene she co-edited Eric M. Moormann, Arco di Constantino, tra archeologia e archeometria (Rome 1999), which summed up the new interpretation of the Arch of Constantine
as entirely scavenged sculptural elements reused and modified from a Hadrianic context.
Her excavations in Rome, discovering lead roofing nails melted by the heat of the Great Fire of Rome
, were sketched for a general audience in the PBS "Secrets of the Dead" episode on the fire.
In 2006 two reports on the Palatine excavations were newsworthy. In June, the discovery of a carefully secreted wooden box containing imperial scepters and ceremonial lance-heads and halberd
s, dating to the fourth century. The three scepters had handgrips of orichalcum
, the prized golden-colored brass alloy, with glass and chalcedony
globes. The following month her report that her team had uncovered the frescoed corridor of a grand aristocratic domus
of the first century BCE, the so-called Palatine House, led to hopes that it may prove to be the birthplace of Augustus
.
University of Rome La Sapienza
The Sapienza University of Rome, officially Sapienza – Università di Roma, formerly known as Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza", is a coeducational, autonomous state university in Rome, Italy...
, where she teaches Methodology of Archaeology. Though none of her publications are available in English, she has guided and co-written a number of articles on the commercial pottery of ancient Italy.
Panella's contribution has been in the field of modern amphora
Amphora
An amphora is a type of vase-shaped, usually ceramic container with two handles and a long neck narrower than the body...
studies, which combine careful observation, quantification and intensive research. She published her analysis of the amphoras from excavation at the baths at Ostia in Studi Miscellanei 13 (1968), 16 (1972), and especially 21 (1973). She has contributed to four major conferences which set the standard for amphora studies today: Recherches sur les amphores romaines, CollEFR 10 (Rome 1972); Méthodes classiques et méthodes formelles dans l'étude des amphores, CollEFR 32 (Rome 1977); Recherches sur les amphores grècques, BCH Suppl. 13 (Paris 1986) and Amphores romaines et histoire économique: Dix ans de recherche, CollEFR 114 (Rome 1989). She worked at Carthage in the early years of the UNESCO archaeological project there.
In addition, she prepared the conclusions of the symposium on sixth and seventh century ceramics in Italy that was held at Rome in honour of John W. Hayes, published as Ceramica in Italia: VI-VII secolo: Atti del Convengo in onore di John W. Hayes, Roma 11-13 maggio 1995, L. Sagui, editor (Florence: Edizioni All’Insegna del Giglio, in series Biblioteca di Archeologia Medievale 14) 1998.
Her continuing interest in the testimony contributed by ancient amphoras, their imprinted bullae of manufacture and the traces of the goods they carried, were reflected in her contribution to The Ancient Economy, 2002 She is often called upon to provide dates for amphorae found at otherwise hard-to-date sites, such as shipwreck
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
s.
In excavations under her direction west of the Colosseum
Colosseum
The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre , is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire...
and on the northeast slopes of the Palatine Hill
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city...
in Rome, the foundations of the Meta Sudans
Meta Sudans
The Meta Sudans was a large monumental conical fountain in ancient Rome.The Meta Sudans was built some time between 89 and 96 under the Flavian emperors, a few years after the completion of the nearby Colosseum...
, a fountain of the Augustan era, were uncovered, together with other remains dating from the Late Republic through the Flavian eras. Nearby, on the lower slopes of the Palatine, her recent excavations showed traces of religious cult dating as far back as the late seventh century BCE.
With Patrizio Pensabene she co-edited Eric M. Moormann, Arco di Constantino, tra archeologia e archeometria (Rome 1999), which summed up the new interpretation of the Arch of Constantine
Arch of Constantine
The Arch of Constantine is a triumphal arch in Rome, situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. It was erected to commemorate Constantine I's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312...
as entirely scavenged sculptural elements reused and modified from a Hadrianic context.
Her excavations in Rome, discovering lead roofing nails melted by the heat of the Great Fire of Rome
Great Fire of Rome
The Great Fire of Rome was an urban fire that occurred beginning July 19, AD 64.-Background:According to Tacitus, the fire spread quickly and burned for six days. Only four of the fourteen districts of Rome escaped the fire; three districts were completely destroyed and the other seven suffered...
, were sketched for a general audience in the PBS "Secrets of the Dead" episode on the fire.
In 2006 two reports on the Palatine excavations were newsworthy. In June, the discovery of a carefully secreted wooden box containing imperial scepters and ceremonial lance-heads and halberd
Halberd
A halberd is a two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use during the 14th and 15th centuries. Possibly the word halberd comes from the German words Halm , and Barte - in modern-day German, the weapon is called Hellebarde. The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on...
s, dating to the fourth century. The three scepters had handgrips of orichalcum
Orichalcum
Orichalcum is a metal mentioned in several ancient writings, most notably the story of Atlantis as recounted in the Critias dialogue, recorded by Plato. According to Critias, orichalcum was considered second only to gold in value, and was found and mined in many parts of Atlantis in ancient times....
, the prized golden-colored brass alloy, with glass and chalcedony
Chalcedony
Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of silica, composed of very fine intergrowths of the minerals quartz and moganite. These are both silica minerals, but they differ in that quartz has a trigonal crystal structure, while moganite is monoclinic...
globes. The following month her report that her team had uncovered the frescoed corridor of a grand aristocratic domus
Domus
In ancient Rome, the domus was the type of house occupied by the upper classes and some wealthy freedmen during the Republican and Imperial eras. They could be found in almost all the major cities throughout the Roman territories...
of the first century BCE, the so-called Palatine House, led to hopes that it may prove to be the birthplace of Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
.