The “De-construction” of Ancient Rome: Sketching the History of Roman Re-use

Continued archaeological investigation and research in recent years have transformed our traditional picture of re-use in ancient architecture. No longer viewed as late-antique phenomena, recycling and re-use are now seen as standard, fundamental parts of building practices in all periods of construction. Nowhere is this more evident than in the city of Rome, where recycling and re-use have been constant features of the building industry from the city’s beginnings to the present day. For the Roman period in particular, one of the city’s defining construction techniques, mortared rubble (aka Roman concrete), helped make re-use an indispensable aspect of construction and demolition material a significant resource. Moreover, while structures were often demolished to make way for new projects, this demolition was often careful so that the maximum amount of reusable material could be salvaged. Within the city of Rome, the recycling industry was well-developed, providing a flexible and economical solution for the disposal of “waste” materials from demolished structures. This talk focuses on the role of re-use during the Roman period in the city of Rome. It will present a brief overview and explore some of the manifestations of architectural re-use and its importance within the city’s construction industry and built environment.

Simon Barker is a Classical archaeologist who has published widely in the field of Roman archaeology with a strong focus on recycling and re-use practices in the architecture and sculpture of the Roman and late-antique periods. He has held an Alexander von Humboldt postdoctoral research fellowship, and positions at the Centre Camille Jullian, l’Université d’Aix-Marseille, the British School at Rome (BSR), the Norwegian Institute in Rome, Ruprecht–Karls–Universität Heidelberg, Ludwig–Maximilians–Universität München, and at the Centre for Research on Ancient Civilizations at the University of Warsaw. He is working on a book entitled Recycling Buildings: The Economics of Demolition, Salvage, and Re–use in the City of Rome 100 BC–AD 315 that will bring together his research on re-use and its role within the Roman building industry.

Scientific Organization: Giordano Ocelli and Lise Meitner Group