Integrated Methodologies for the Reconstruction of the Ancient City of Lixus (Morocco)

In 2010-12 the University of Siena, in collaboration with the INSAP (Moroccan National Institute of Sciences in Archaeology and Heritage) and the University Mohamed V- Souissi of Rabat, carried out an archaeological project in Lixus (Larache), one of the most important centres of antique Morocco. The site lies on a hill over the Loukkos river estuary. It was inhabited, not continuously, between the VIIIth century BC and the XII-XIIIth century AD. The city area was first investigated in the XIXth century and under the Spanish Protectorate in Morocco (1912-56). In recent years, other archaeological expeditions were led by the University of Valencia and the INSAP. Previous research brought to light several public, private and productive structures. Among these, the cetariae quarter is nowadays the largest fish processing complex of the Roman Empire. The topography of Lixus was documented by some aerial images, produced by a photogrammetric survey realised in 1966, and by some building plans. Our research strategy aimed at integrating different techniques and methods: - acquisition and study of relevant documentation, both in published and archival records, - geophysical prospections of unexcavated areas, - topographical survey of emerging structures, - DGPS survey, - 2D and 3D land-based and aerial photogrammetry, - survey and analysis of the archaeological stratification and building techniques of the city walls, - analysis of the diachronical urban evolution of a quarter located on the eastern slope of the hill, close to the supposed forum. All the data were managed in CAD environment and then transferred on a GIS platform. This multidisciplinary approach produced a great amount of data, that led to the revision of Lixus urban plan and the definition of the historical and archaeological evolution of the city walls and of the eastern slope quarter.