La ricerca predittiva come strumento di tutela, prevenzione e conservazione del patrimonio archeologico urbano

The stratified character of the Italian cities and the necessity of development have caused in urban contexts in the past decades –and cause even now– many archeological discoveries not always desired that involve many issues such as delays in the works. This problem, in addition to the difficulties of reconciliation between historical emergencies and infrastructural projects, requires nowadays a reflection on the methods of investigation and conservation of archeological remains found in stratified contexts. In order to solve these difficulties, the “Codice dei Beni Culturali e del Paesaggio” introduced in 2004 the possibility to require the execution of preventive surveys in order to declare the archeological risk of an area (art. 28). Starting from this act and continuing with the analysis of subsequent outcomes, the research wants to reflect on practices and laws promoted in Italy in the last 20 years, to ensure the pacification between urban development and archeological heritage. Therefore, through the comparison of different cases of study, the contribution tries to verify the results of these methods, recognizing the necessity, facing the risk of loss of entire archeological layers due to infrastructural works, to ensure systematic consultation between archaeologists and urban planners and promote an integrated conservation of remains as well as the utilization of different instruments such as archeological cartographies and databases (CART system, etc.).