La villa romana di Bocca delle Menate, Comacchio. Un'esperienza di archeologia globale

As part of the activities within the VALUE project, the EU-funded Interreg Italy-Croatia, the University of Ferrara conducted a series of investigations in the site of Bocca delle Menate in Comacchio (FE). Such investigations involved the area of the Roman villa found between 1958 and 1959 during the reclaiming operations of the Mezzano Valley. This paper presents the preliminary results of the project: the geomorphological and historical context of the villa is followed by the history of the 1950s excavations and the results of archival and on field research. A particular focus is given to the new data obtained through geophysical prospections and archaeological surveys, and to the use of a specific system of field-data collection and storage. Anyway, the real innovative aspect of this archaeological project is the holistic approach to the investigated territory.