Research: The prealpine settlements from the Final Bronze to the First Iron Age (ca. 1200- 375 BCE): the case of Como-Spina Verde as a model for wider analysis.
EDUCATION
November 2023 – ongoing: PhD in Archaeology, Prehistoric curriculum, “Sapienza” University of Rome
Cotutelle: Research doctorate course in Prehistoric and Early Historic Archaeology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Research project title: Gli abitati prealpini e alpini tra Bronzo Finale e Primo Ferro (1200–375 a.C.): un modello di studio tramite il caso di Como-Spina Verde (CO) / The prealpine settlements from the Final Bronze to the First Iron Age (ca. 1200–375 BCE): the case of Como-Spina Verde as a model for wider analysis.
Supervisors: Prof. A. Vanzetti (Sapienza), Prof. Dr. Carola Metzner-Nebelsick (LMU)
2019–2022: Master’s Degree in Archaeology, Prehistoric Curriculum, “Sapienza” University of Rome.
Thesis: Como protostorica: topografia digitale e analisi del centro protourbano della Spina Verde (CO)
Supervisor: Prof. A. Vanzetti; Co-supervisors: SABAP Officer B. Grassi; Prof. A. Di Renzoni.
Final grade: 110/110 cum laude
2015–2019: Bachelor’s Degree in Archaeological Sciences, Prehistoric Curriculum, “Sapienza” University of Rome.
Thesis: Materiali di superficie dal sito di “Le Coazze-Le Basse” di Gazzo Veronese (VR)
Supervisor: Prof. A. Vanzetti.
Final grade: 102/110
ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK
June 2025: Flotation campaign at the protohistoric site of Cannatello, Agrigento (AG), and archaeological illustrator during storage and materials study activities. Scientific direction: Prof. Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome) and Prof. Sara T. Levi (Hunter College, NY–USA).
2021; 2023: Survey campaign, geomagnetic prospection, and materials study at the protohistoric site of Como (CO). Scientific direction: Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome), Prof. Carola Metzner-Nebelsick (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich – Germany), and Prof. Louis Nebelsick (Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warsaw – Poland).
2021–2023: Excavation campaign at the protohistoric site of Stätteberg, Unterhausen – district of Neuburg an der Donau (Bavaria, Germany). Scientific direction: Prof. Carola Metzner-Nebelsick (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich – Germany) and Prof. Louis Nebelsick (Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warsaw – Poland).
2019–2023: Excavation and materials study campaign at the protohistoric site of Cannatello, Agrigento (AG). From 2022: Sector Supervisor. Scientific direction: Prof. Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome) and Prof. Sara T. Levi (Hunter College, NY–USA).
May 2022: Survey, 3D metric survey, and remote sensing campaign: Progetto Parco Spina Verde Como – Team Direct 2022. Scientific direction: Prof. Antonia Spanò, Prof. Andrea Lingua, Prof. Fabio Giulio Tonolo, Prof. Paolo Maschio (Politecnico di Torino).
September 2020: Excavation and materials study campaign at the protohistoric site of Monte Croce–Guardia, Arcevia (AN). Scientific direction: Prof. Andrea Cardarelli (Sapienza University of Rome).
July–August 2018: Excavation and materials study campaign at the Roman site of Peltuinum, between the municipalities of Prata d’Ansidonia and S. Pio delle Camere (AQ). Scientific direction: Prof. Luisa Migliorati (Sapienza University of Rome).
April–May 2018: Ceramic materials study campaign, Roman Imperial period, Sigillata ware. Scientific direction: Prof. Emanuela Borgia (Sapienza University of Rome).
December 2017: Field survey and materials collection and study at the site of Gazzo Veronese (VR). Scientific direction: Prof. Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome).
July 2017: Excavation campaign on the northern slopes of the Palatine Hill, Rome (RM). Scientific direction: Paolo Carafa.
May–June 2017: Training laboratory on data management for the creation of an Archaeological Information System. Scientific direction: Prof. Paolo Carafa (Sapienza University of Rome).
2016: Materials study campaign from the site of Pyrgi, Santa Marinella (RM). Scientific direction: Prof. Paola Baglione (Sapienza University of Rome).
CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS
-F. Di Maria 2026, Sotto la Spina Verde (Como): il LiDAR tra potenzialità e limiti – XIII edizione del Seminario della Scuola di Dottorato in Archeologia, Confine: Definire, Attraversare, Superare i limiti. Conference organizers: F. Bindelli, C. Bocioaga, G. Cati, M. D’Amico, F. Di Maria, S. Mele, D. Paolucci, A. Vivona. Sapienza University of Rome, February 9, 2026
-F. Di Maria 2025, Nuove ricerche sull’abitato protostorico di Como-Spina Verde – Lecture at the Conference series “Apertura straordinaria Serale dell’ex Complesso di Santa Maria della Vittoria”, SABAP CO-LC, Milan, November 5, 2025
-F. Di Maria 2025, Forme insediative nel sito protostorico di Como-Spina Verde – Lecture at the Online Conference series of Società Archeologica Comense, June 24, 2025
-F. Di Maria 2025, S.P.A.C.E. Project. COMO - SPINA VERDE: un approccio ibrido alla documentazione ceramica tra tradizione e Laser Aided Profiler. Prime riflessioni, potenzialità ed errori di una metodologia in evoluzione – Laser Aided Profiler: Innovazioni e potenzialità dello strumento. Esperienze a confronto [Round Table]. Moderators: Nadia Aleotti, Francesca Di Maria and Nicola Lapacciana. Sapienza University of Rome, March 14, 2025
-F. Di Maria 2024, S.P.A.C.E. Project – Rediscovering the Como-Spina Verde Site: Challenges and Potential in Archaeological Research – Cambridge–LMU Strategic Partnership: Collaborative Graduate School in Archaeology, Final Workshop: Mobility and Much Else, LMU Munich, Main Building HS A 120, Munich, December 20, 2024.
-F. Di Maria 2024, S.P.A.C.E. – Settlements in the Prealpine Area: Como and its Evolution – Lecture at Cambridge Later European Prehistory Group Seminar Series, Michaelmas Term 2024, McDonald Seminar Room, Magdalene College, Cambridge, November 19, 2024.
-F. Di Maria 2024, Rediscovering the proto-urban site of Como-Spina Verde (Northern Italy): challenges and potential in archaeological research – 30th EAA Annual Meeting, Rome, Italy, August 28–31, 2024, session #1043, August 30, 2024.
-F. Di Maria, A. Vanzetti, B. Grassi, L. D. Nebelsick, C. Metzner-Nebelsick, F. Welc 2023, “Shaping the pre-Alpine landscape: the proto-urban site of Spina Verde, Como” – International Conference “The Alps in the 1st Millennium BC”, Innsbruck, September 29, 2023.
-F. Di Maria, B. Grassi, A. Vanzetti 2023, “What makes a site unitary? The case study of Como-Spina Verde in the Iron Age” – 29th EAA Annual Meeting, Belfast, Northern Ireland, August 30 – September 2, 2023, September 1, 2023.
-F. Di Maria, Member of the Team of Volunteers for the 29th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists, Belfast, Northern Ireland, August 30 – September 2, 2023.
-F. Di Maria 2022, “The Proto-urban settlement of Como”, lecture at POLITO – Politecnico di Torino, May 23, 2022.
-F. Di Maria, A. Vanzetti, M. Bertoldo, D. Monti, L. Salzani, F. Saccoccio 2021, “Il centro protostorico di Gazzo Veronese tra Veneti, Etruschi e Celti” – Centro Ambientale Archeologico Museo Civico di Legnago, December 18, 2021.
-A. Vanzetti, F. Di Maria, A. Di Renzoni 2020, “Huts and Houses of the Italian Prehistory: a rough account”, lecture at LMU – Institut für Vor- und Frühgeschichtliche Archäologie und Provinzialrömische Archäologie, December 16, 2020.
SUMMER SCHOOL
MOSAICchrono Summer School, International Research School. Focus: Handling and processing chronological data in archaeology; RStudio software. Bibracte EPCC, France, September 2–7.
Organised by Lizzie Scholtus, Dr. (Kiel University, Germany); Léonard Dumont (University of Bourgogne, France – Ghent University, Belgium); Oliver Nakoinz, Prof. Dr. (Kiel University, Germany); Université Franco-Allemande / Deutsch-Französische Hochschule; Institute of Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology – Kiel University; Johanna Mestorf Academy – Kiel University; Bibracte EPCC.
PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH PROJECTS
-Participation, as Scientific direction, in the Avvio alla Ricerca 2025 – tipo 1 project, Attraverso la Pianura Padana: ulteriori analisi archeometriche sulla ceramica fine etrusco-padana da nuovi siti protostorici dell'Italia settentrionale. Supervisor: Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome).
-Participation, as PhD candidate and structured member of the research group, in the CANNATELLO (AG) research project – Excavations and integrated research on a key-site of Late Bronze Age Mediterranean connectivity: last excavation campaign. Years: 2025–2027.
Scientific direction: Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome). Role in the project: Database manager.
-Participation, as Scientific direction, in the Avvio alla Ricerca 2024 – tipo 1 project, Nuove indagini archeometriche di provenienza sulla Ceramica fine tipo Etrusco-Padana dai siti protostorici del Nord Italia. Supervisor: Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome).
-Participation, as PhD candidate and structured member of the research group, in the CANNATELLO (AG) research project – Excavations and integrated research on a key-site of Late Bronze Age Mediterranean connectivity: completion research phase. Years: 2024–2026.
Scientific direction: Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome); Principal Investigator: Sara Marino (Sapienza University of Rome). Role in the project: Database manager.
-Participation, as structured member, in the international research project From Genua to Günzburg – Como project. Years: 2021–2023. Scientific direction: Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome), Prof. Carola Metzner-Nebelsick (LMU Munich, Germany), Prof. Louis Nebelsick (Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warsaw – Poland), and G. Grassi (SABAP archaeological officer for the provinces of CO-LC-MB-SO-VA).
UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION GRANTS
October – December 2025: BS-J 016/2024 Inserimento e ottimizzazione dati Database e GIS Grande Scavo Cannatello (AG) per il progetto di ricerca 000040_22_RS_VANZETTI_GRANDISCAVI (CUP B83C22004500005).
Scientific direction: Prof. Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome).
October – December 2024: BS-J 027/2023 Inserimento e ottimizzazione dati Database e GIS Grande Scavo Cannatello (AG) per il progetto di ricerca 000040_23_RS_VANZETTI_GRANDISCAVI (CUP B43C23000490005).
Scientific direction: Prof. Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome).
May – June 2022: Renewal BS-J 008/2022 Inserimento e ottimizzazione dati Database e GIS Grande Scavo Cannatello (AG) per il progetto di ricerca 000040_21_RS_VANZETTI_GRANDISCAVI – FONDI GRANDI SCAVI 2021 (CUP B85F21003250005).
Scientific direction: Prof. Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome).
March – April 2022: BS-J 008/2022 Inserimento e ottimizzazione dati Database e GIS Grande Scavo Cannatello (AG) per il progetto di ricerca 000040_21_RS_VANZETTI_GRANDISCAVI – FONDI GRANDI SCAVI 2021 (CUP B85F21003250005).
Scientific direction: Prof. Alessandro Vanzetti (Sapienza University of Rome).
WORK EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
01/03/2025 – 31/03/2025: Sapienza ICE 045/2024; Occasional collaboration; External collaborator. Graphic documentation of Bronze Age artefacts and database entry for the research project 000040_22_RS_CARDARELLI_GRANDISCAVI (CUP B83C22004500005).
03/02/2025 – 31/03/2025: ISPC, Istituto di Scienze del Patrimonio Culturale – CNR, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; Occasional collaboration; External collaborator. Main tasks: Graphic and photographic documentation of Bronze Age archaeological artefacts and analysis of archival archaeological data related to Bronze Age sites within the DUS.AD013.054 / PRIN 2020 – 2020TL4SEJ project.
10/11/2023 – 10/12/23: SAP Società Archeologica s.r.l.; Occasional collaboration; External collaborator. Main tasks: Updating the archaeological map of Como-Spina Verde (Early Iron Age settlement evidence) in RAPTOR for SABAP CO-LC-MB-PV-SO-VA.
01/09/2023 – 30/09/2023: ISPC, Istituto di Scienze del Patrimonio Culturale – CNR, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; Occasional collaboration; External collaborator. Main tasks: Graphic and photographic documentation of Bronze Age archaeological artefacts and analysis of archival archaeological data related to Bronze Age sites within the DUS.AD013.054 / PRIN 2020 – 2020TL4SEJ project.