Memories from underground

Construction sites for building infrastructure are evermore strictly linked to urban development, with urban planning and concomitantly with history and the archeology of the territories. They often are an unrepeatable opportunity for discovering hidden treasures that laid underground for centuries or even millennia. 

In a nation like Italy, which has the greatest number of UNESCO sites in the world, every excavation could be an unrepeatable opportunity of discovery and enhancement. 

Preventive archaeology and infrastructural archaeological excavation sites

What happens when a construction company that builds large infrastructure excavates underground in places to reachable by classic archaeology? How can infrastructural works discover, and bring to the ground and preserve the delicate archaeological finds that can be found in the territory?

Building large infrastructure that ease urban and interregional connections bringing to life the archaeological finds that emerge thanks to the excavations. Heading into the darkest and unexplored spaces underground to build futuristic works and to bring to the surface traces of our most ancient history. This is Webuild's, clients' and Supervisory Boards' working in the different sectors most ambitious challenge. 

Archaeological conservation in infrastructural construction sites

The conservation and enhancement of archaeological art and archaeological works has always been an active part of the activities of the Webuild Group, which brought to the service fascinating treasures both in Italy and globally. Sections of Roman aqueducts, portions of walls from the Roman era, monuments covered by time, Medieval roads, tombs and sites that go back to the Iron and Copper Age. 

Building new roads and metros have transformed into archaeological expeditions, cabale of offering a more detailed reading of settlements and ancient peoples.

Infrastructure and safeguarding archaeological heritage 

In building infrastructural works there is a need of great skills to discover and enhance historical and cultural heritage, besides safeguarding artistic works in the excavation phases. 

With almost 120 years of history, the Group puts its skills to serve preventive archaeology, collaborating with local Supervisory Boards. Webuild in Italy is committed to building 10 large infrastructure projects that include activities for enhancing archaeological finds detected during excavation phases. 

Archaeological methods integrated in the construction sites

In the construction sites located in areas with potential archaeological findings, Webuild identifies the best methods to use for managing excavation activities compatible with discovering and enhancing findings ensuring continuous collaboration with Supervisory Boards, carrying out preventive investigations to assess archaeological risk and, where needed, carrying out archaeological assistance during excavation phases: Webuild adopts an integrated approach: preventive investigations to assess archaeological risk, archaeological assistance during excavations and continuous collaboration with Supervisory Boards to manage and protect findings.

An effective synergy model between infrastructure and cultural heritage, which allows preserving cultural assets without slowing down the advancement of works.

Questo testo è stato rivisto e non era segnalato. In questa rivisitazione la sovraintendenza sembra abbia un ruolo minoritario rispetto a prima. Il rapporto con le soprintendenze mi sembra delicato ultimamente, modifiche in questo senso forse andrebbero condivise a livelli superiori.

Webuild's "Agenda Cultura" and enhancement of archaeological findings 

Webuild's Agenda Cultura enriches itself with a new chapter for narrating its works for conserving and enhancing archaeological findings through 4 main topics: the history of he Findings, the Animus (from the Latin meaning of donating) meant as paying attention to people, communities, traditions, the Engineering Techniques used, Environmental Sustainability, i.e. enhancing and using sites in a broader environmental context. 

Italy has an incredible archaeological stratification not just with regard to time, but also to space. In urban areas, different epochs lay one above the other; traces of the XIX Century hide Renaissance findings, Medieval findings can be found on top of Roman and Etruscan findings

In this context, Webuild's large infrastructure sites become ways to discover. Each intervention inside an archaeological site can bring to life archaeological situations that are stratified, one on top of each other, and that without the excavation, wuld remain invisible underground.

Infrastructure and memory: building the future, preserving the past

Webuild's large infrastructure construction sites, projects that drive Nations towards their future, thanks to their presence, may allow finding precious traces that are stratified from different eras that - without the excavations - would remain unknown underground. And, it is also possible, that infrastructure may have to live with large architectural works and artistic ones and archaeological findings, which the infrastructure works must preserve and enhance.

It is actually with regard to this bond between past and future that we wish to allow our story to begin, to demonstrate how the past can and must live with the future through the clever construction of new infrastructure and preserving archaeological findings and works of art.

Art and culture, beauty and utility, merge into one in the new infrastructures so that cities can be even more accessible and beautiful.