SURVEY ALONG THE “VIA NOVA HADRIANA”Hadriana Hadriana was not exactly known, there are only a few news about some single points Our aim in this exploration survey was to recognize

SCIENTIFIC MISSION IN EGYPT SCIENTIFIC MISSION IN EGYPT –– February 2010February 2010

SURVEY ALONG THE SURVEY ALONG THE ““VIA NOVA HADRIANAVIA NOVA HADRIANA””

A DESERT HIGHWAY OF THE II CENTURY A.D. A DESERT HIGHWAY OF THE II CENTURY A.D.

PARTICIPANTS:PARTICIPANTS:-- Prof. Gloria Rosati, Prof. Gloria Rosati, DipDip. Sc. Antichit. Sc. Antichitàà, Universit, Universitàà di Firenze, Italydi Firenze, Italy-- Dr. Dr. GeolGeol. Michele Baldi, . Michele Baldi, DipDip. Scienze della Terra, Universit. Scienze della Terra, Universitàà di Firenze, Italy di Firenze, Italy -- Dr. Julie Dr. Julie MarchandMarchand, , UniversityUniversity ofof ParisParis 1 1 –– PanthPanthééonon--SorbonneSorbonne, , ParisParis, France, Franceandand-- Prof. Marcello Prof. Marcello SpanuSpanu, , DipDip. Sc. Mondo Antico, Universit. Sc. Mondo Antico, Universitàà della della TusciaTuscia, Italy , Italy -- Dr. James Dr. James HeidelHeidel, The Chicago House, Chicago, USA, The Chicago House, Chicago, USAUnder the supervision and Under the supervision and withwith the the permittpermitt of The Supreme of The Supreme CouncilCouncil forfor AntiquityAntiquity, , EgyptEgypt

ArchaelogicalArchaelogical MissionMission at at ElEl ScheikhScheikh ‘‘AbadahAbadah, , DirectorsDirectors Prof. Rosario Prof. Rosario PintaudiPintaudi & Guido & Guido BastianiniBastianini –– GeneralGeneral AssistentAssistent Dr. Diletta Dr. Diletta MinutoliMinutoliLogisticLogistic supportsupport: : NomadNomad ExpeditionExpedition, Cairo, , Cairo, EgyptEgypt

Class in Geology of Stone Resources: Class in Geology of Stone Resources: Prof. Geol. Massimo ColiProf. Geol. Massimo Coli

AIM OF THE AIM OF THE MISSION:MISSION:

To survey in the To survey in the field by means field by means of a GPS trackof a GPS track-- log the exact log the exact path of the path of the western western segment of the segment of the roman Via Nova roman Via Nova HadrianaHadriana

To prepare a To prepare a joint research joint research project on project on ““Scientific and Scientific and historical historical documentation documentation of the Via Nova of the Via Nova HadrianaHadriana: : proposal for its proposal for its inclusion in the inclusion in the Cultural Heritage Cultural Heritage list and for its list and for its rere--evaluationevaluation””

SURVEY ALONG THE VIA NOVA HADRIANA – February 2010

-- INTRODUCTION:INTRODUCTION:

The G. The G. VitelliVitelli PapirologicalPapirological Institute of the Institute of the University of Firenze (Italy) is working in University of Firenze (Italy) is working in Antinoopolis since 41 years for pure Antinoopolis since 41 years for pure classic archaeological and classic archaeological and papirologicalpapirological researchesresearches

In these last years the research targets In these last years the research targets were enlarged in order to better define the were enlarged in order to better define the role and the importance of Antinoopolis in role and the importance of Antinoopolis in the Roman and Byzantine timesthe Roman and Byzantine times

Recent researches outlined the intense Recent researches outlined the intense Copts monastic frequentation of the area, Copts monastic frequentation of the area, the large production of amphorae at the large production of amphorae at Antinoopolis and the great importance that Antinoopolis and the great importance that the quarrying activity, established in the the quarrying activity, established in the nearby of Antinoopolis, held in the nearby of Antinoopolis, held in the imperial timeimperial time

Further researches are in progress on the Further researches are in progress on the city itself and on its relationships with the city itself and on its relationships with the ancient worldancient world

Therefore, it has been considered very Therefore, it has been considered very important to define in detail the path of the important to define in detail the path of the Via Nova Via Nova HadrianaHadriana trading route in order to trading route in order to understand what type of link Antinoopolis understand what type of link Antinoopolis can have with the Read Sea and what can have with the Read Sea and what goods travelled along that roadgoods travelled along that road


Ramses II temple The Roman circus

Nile

Antinoopolis

City walls

-- PREMISES:PREMISES:

The Emperor Hadrian after the settlement of The Emperor Hadrian after the settlement of Antinoopolis decided to directly connect the new city Antinoopolis decided to directly connect the new city with the Red Sea harbors and with the Red Sea harbors and BerenikeBerenike by leading a by leading a new road across the eastern desert: the Via Nova new road across the eastern desert: the Via Nova HadrianaHadriana, it was finished in 137 AD, it was finished in 137 AD

Traces of the Via Nova Traces of the Via Nova HadrianaHadriana were noted by were noted by CouyatCouyat (1910) and Murray (1925) who recorded the (1910) and Murray (1925) who recorded the sites of several small mansions in the southern part sites of several small mansions in the southern part of the road, but few in the north and none at all on of the road, but few in the north and none at all on the westthe west--east stretch between Antinoopolis and the east stretch between Antinoopolis and the coast. Many of these road stations had fortified coast. Many of these road stations had fortified watering points (watering points (hydreumatahydreumata))

An inscription relating to its construction by teams An inscription relating to its construction by teams of soldiers describes the nature of the route, which of soldiers describes the nature of the route, which must be generally representative of the routes must be generally representative of the routes traversing the desert:traversing the desert:

Imperator Caesar Imperator Caesar TraianusTraianus HadrianusHadrianus Augustus, son Augustus, son of the divine of the divine TraianusTraianus parthicusparthicus and grandson of the and grandson of the divine divine NervaNerva, , pontifexpontifex maximusmaximus, holding the , holding th e tribuniciantribunician potestypotesty for the twentyfor the twenty--first time, the title first time, the title of imperator for the second time, the consulship for of imperator for the second time, the consulship for the third time, father of his country, built from the third time, father of his country, built from BerenikeBerenike to to AtinoopolisAtinoopolis through secure and level through secure and level country to the Read Sea the new Hadrian way spaced country to the Read Sea the new Hadrian way spaced with abundant cisterns, resting stations, and with abundant cisterns, resting stations, and garrisons. The 21st Year garrisons. The 21st Year PhamenothPhamenoth 1 1 …… …… the the names of soldiers follow names of soldiers follow ……


-- PREVIOUS STUDIESPREVIOUS STUDIES

The field survey performed in the The field survey performed in the years years ‘‘9090thth of the XX century by a of the XX century by a team of the Delaware University team of the Delaware University (USA), leaded by (USA), leaded by SidebothamSidebotham, , allowed to recognize the path of the allowed to recognize the path of the Via Nova Via Nova HadrianaHadriana: it resulted well : it resulted well documented along the Red Sea cost documented along the Red Sea cost and in its pass of the middle ridge of and in its pass of the middle ridge of the eastern desert, which is in the the eastern desert, which is in the same place where now run the same place where now run the BeniBeni MazarMazar––GharibGharib road: the ancient road: the ancient Umm Umm SuwagiSuwagi

But from Antinoopolis to Umm But from Antinoopolis to Umm SuwagiSuwagi the path of the Via Nova the path of the Via Nova HadrianaHadriana was not exactly known, was not exactly known, there are only a few news about there are only a few news about some single pointssome single points

Our aim in this exploration survey Our aim in this exploration survey was to recognize and tracing in the was to recognize and tracing in the field the exact path of the Via Nova field the exact path of the Via Nova HadrianaHadriana in this segment by means in this segment by means of a GPS trackof a GPS track--loglog


The Delaware The Delaware University University expeditions in the expeditions in the eastern desert eastern desert between between Antinoopolis and Antinoopolis and Umm Umm SawagiSawagi, also , also thanks to the help thanks to the help of local Bedouin of local Bedouin guides, were able to guides, were able to identify and locate identify and locate by GPS (Magellan by GPS (Magellan NAV 5000 D) many NAV 5000 D) many places along the Via places along the Via Nova Nova HadrianaHadriana and and connected routes, connected routes, like: wells, road like: wells, road ramps, settlements, ramps, settlements, stationsstations

But no news are But no news are given regarding the given regarding the exact path of the exact path of the Via Nova Via Nova HadrianaHadriana in connecting all in connecting all these sitesthese sites


The western segment of the Via Nova Hadriana run in the Maaza Plateau constituted by Eocene carbonate platform limestone which is cut towards the Nile Valley by deep neogenic wades and bounded on the eastern side by the northernmost ridge of the Middle Eastern Desert Chain


The Eastern Desert landscape is the result of a The Eastern Desert landscape is the result of a long period of land erosion (from Oligocene to long period of land erosion (from Oligocene to Late Miocene) which was acting on subLate Miocene) which was acting on sub-- horizontal Eocene carbonate platform horizontal Eocene carbonate platform limestone; during this long time the whole limestone; during this long time the whole area was reduced to a area was reduced to a peneplainpeneplain, with , with inselbergesinselberges, , monadnocksmonadnocks and regolites on the and regolites on the residual low energy surfaceresidual low energy surface

The The MessinianMessinian drying of the Mediterranean led drying of the Mediterranean led the Nile to cut a deep canyon whose lateral the Nile to cut a deep canyon whose lateral branches deeply eroded backward the branches deeply eroded backward th e tributary wadestributary wades

At present the Nile filled its canyon until its At present the Nile filled its canyon until its present datum, but the eastern desert still present datum, but the eastern desert still represents a plateau, about 200m higher, with represents a plateau, about 200m higher, with steep slopes towards the Nile plain and steep slopes towards the Nile plain and tributary wadestributary wades


WORKING METHODWORKING METHOD

All the site data of the Delaware University were implemented inAll the site data of the Delaware University were implemented into Google Earthto Google Earth®® and and then we analyzed the imageries at their maximum enlargement (abthen we analyzed the imageries at their maximum enlargement (about 800m of height) in out 800m of height) in order to identify any possible traces of the Via Nova order to identify any possible traces of the Via Nova HadrianaHadriana, ad if some traces were , ad if some traces were visible we traced and recorded them on a visible we traced and recorded them on a kmzkmz filefile


By means of this method we were able to trace many segments of the Via Nova Hadriana, as in this picture the jump-up from the Wadi Ibadah onto the Gebel el Adila.

That occurs in the only places where it is morphological possible with a minimum of effort

On the Gebel the Via Nova Hadriana path is well preserved because the removing of the regolite boulders


In same instances the analysis of the Google Earth® imageries led us to better locate the site listed by the Delaware University, some of them resulted relocated until a few hundreds of a meter aside of the given location

Our field survey by GPS confirmed the new locations (RealTrack directly tracing on Google Earth® imageries, maximum horizontal error <2m with always 11 satellites connected)


200m

Even in the water and wind washed areas the path of the Via Nova Hadriana is still well preserved and always marked by lateral lines of cairns

The Via Nova Hadriana always goes straight in the desert with a constant wideness of about 8 double Roman passes (around 12m)


This wideness allowed a Legion to

march in its own order of six abreast legionaries plus the officers (Centurion,

Optio, Signifier) aside as a ninth line

The space for each line was about 1m

In two sites, where it was necessary to overcome a high differenIn two sites, where it was necessary to overcome a high difference in the ground level, the Via ce in the ground level, the Via Nova Nova HadrianaHadriana presents roadpresents road--ramps supported by dryramps supported by dry--stone walls on the slopestone walls on the slope--sideside


Relics of ancient settlements are still Relics of ancient settlements are still preserved along the Via Nova preserved along the Via Nova HadrianaHadrianaGenerally, settlements were in connection Generally, settlements were in connection with wells or important passages, or acted with wells or important passages, or acted as watching pointsas watching points


Some structures present in Some structures present in the well of the well of MakharegMakhareg GharbGharb suggest the possibility that suggest the possibility that the well would be furnished the well would be furnished with a with a NoriaNoria


During the field survey many pottery relics were found During the field survey many pottery relics were found all along the Via Nova all along the Via Nova HadrianaHadriana

According to the last studies developed at Antinoopolis According to the last studies developed at Antinoopolis the pottery is referable to the following typologies:the pottery is referable to the following typologies:

----> Late Roman seventh (IV> Late Roman seventh (IVVI century A.D.)VI century A.D.)

----> Egyptian third (IV> Egyptian third (IVVI century A.D.)VI century A.D.)

This types are widespread and supposed to be filled This types are widespread and supposed to be filled with wine because their inner side was coated by pitchwith wine because their inner side was coated by pitch

At one site it was also found some pottery:At one site it was also found some pottery:

----> African type from Tunisia (IV> African type from Tunisia (IVVI century A.D.)VI century A.D.)

This last one was typical for olive oil transportThis last one was typical for olive oil transport


During the field survey all the residual traces of the Via Nova During the field survey all the residual traces of the Via Nova HadrianaHadriana were mapped by were mapped by GPS trackGPS track--log and all the sites were relocated by GPSlog and all the sites were relocated by GPS

All these data are now available in Google EarthAll these data are now available in Google Earth®® at the link: at the link: www.lapideiculturali.unifi.itwww.lapideiculturali.unifi.it


http://www.lapideiculturali.unifi.it/

Università degli Studi di Firenze, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra and Istituto Papirologico G. Vitelli

“Scientific and historical documentation of the Via Nova Hadriana: proposal for its inclusion in the Cultural Heritage list and for its re-evaluation”

A PROPOSAL FOR A

JOINT RESEARCH PROJECT FOR THE CONSERVATION OF A CULTURAL HERITAGE


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Documents

SURVEY ALONG THE “VIA NOVA HADRIANA”Hadriana Hadriana was not exactly known, there are only a few news about some single points Our aim in this exploration survey was to recognize