Roman Construction and Seismic Damage. Insights from the Capitolium of Ostia Antica

Abstract

The study presented here forms part of an ongoing, more detailed research project and represents an initial step toward its broader development. It examines the interactions among structural logic, material degradation, environmental factors, and successive restoration phases, focusing on the cumulative nature of pathologies affecting walls, arches, vaults, and supporting elements. Rather than attributing deterioration to a single cause, the Capitolium is interpreted as a stratified architectural system in which material heterogeneity and post-constructional transformations are closely intertwined. Within this framework, the analysis of deformation patterns and equilibrium mechanisms in both vaulted and trabeated systems allows the identification of structural vulnerabilities while avoiding deterministic interpretations of failure. Particular attention is paid to the ambiguity of damage signatures in archaeological contexts, where seismic and non-seismic processes often overlap and are difficult to distinguish. The research integrates archaeological evidence, historical documentation, and structural analysis, highlighting the need for multi-criteria approaches in archaeoseismological interpretation and supporting an understanding of Roman architectural heritage as a dynamic and evolving system.