People

Dr Thea Ravasi

Roman Archaeologist and Director of the Peopling Roman Palaces projectI am Visiting Researcher at Newcastle University, UK, specialising in the study of Roman monumental architecture, with a particular focus on imperial residences, religious buildings, and elite domestic contexts. My research integrates excavation data, building analysis, and 3D spatial documentation to reconstruct architectural design, infrastructure, and patterns of use within large-scale urban and palatial complexes.My work centres on the long-term transformation of the eastern Caelian in Rome and on imperial sites such as the Sessorian Palace in Rome and Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, where I investigate issues of planning, logistics, and the organisation of servile and working populations. More broadly, I explore the archaeology of construction, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to analyse building processes, materials, and their economic and social implications within the Roman world.I also examine Roman collecting and display practices, focusing on statuary and relics to understand their cultural significance, modes of display, and role in shaping memory and identity. Through these strands, my work contributes to wider debates on the relationship between architecture, infrastructure, and social organisation in Roman society.Email: thea.ravasi@ncl.ac.ukORCID | Academia.edu | ResearchGate | Linkedin

Dr Sabrina Pietrobono

Medieval Archaeologist and Archaeology Officer at Hadrian’s VillaAs the Archaeology Officer at Hadrian’s Villa, I contribute to the management, research, and protection of one of the most important archaeological complexes of the Roman world.I specialise in medieval and landscape archaeology. My research focuses on settlement patterns, territorial organisation, and landscape transformation from Late Antiquity through the Middle Ages, particularly in central Italy.I played a key role in advancing the application of Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) methodologies in Italy, often within broader European comparative frameworks. I have also participated in international research initiatives, including a Marie Curie fellowship at Newcastle University (UK), where I worked on comparative landscape studies between northern England and southern Italy.Academia.edu | ResearchGate | Linkedin

Marco Placidi

Speleoarchaeologist and president of Sotterranei di Roma I am a speleoarchaeologist specialising in the study and exploration of subterranean environments, particularly in Rome. I am the founder and president of the cultural association Sotterranei di Roma, which promotes the research, documentation, and public dissemination of the city’s underground heritage.With over twenty-five years of experience, I have conducted extensive investigations of Rome’s hypogeal systems, including major sites such as the Roman Forum and Palatine, the Baths of Caracalla, the Cloaca Maxima, and Hadrian’s Villa, contributing to the mapping, interpretation, and conservation of underground structures ranging from aqueducts and hydraulic systems to caves and service networks.I have also been involved in collaborative research projects employing advanced documentation techniques, including 3D mapping of subterranean spaces, and have played a key role in making these hidden contexts accessible through guided research-led tours, publications, and public outreach initiatives.Academia.edu | Linkedin

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