Maria Carla Somma, associate professor of Christian and Medieval Archaeology in the Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory (DiSPUTer) University “G. D’Annunzio” Chieti.
Education: Degree in Literature at the University of Rome Sapienza; Specialization in Medieval Archaeology, at the National School of Archaeology in Rome; Baccalaureate from the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology; PhD in Archaeology and Post Classical Antiquities from the University of Rome Sapienza.
In the 2000, she joined the role as researcher at the Department of Ancient Sciences of the Chieti University (SSD L-ANT/08). In 2006 she was eligible in the comparative assessment for the role of 2nd level Professor (SSD L-ANT/08) and on 1.12.2006 she was placed in the role as an unconfirmed Associate Professor in the same Theatine University and subsequently confirmed on 1.12.2009. National Scientific Qualification as Full Professor (Area 10/1 SSD L-ANT/08).
Since 2007 she has been a member of the teaching board of the PhD course study in post classical Archaeology and Antiquities of “La Sapienza” University of Rome.
She directs the Archaeological Laboratory of the DiSPUTer Department of the Chieti University, and the Archaeological Photography Laboratory of the same Department.
She is part of the coordination group of the Departmental Centre for Archaeometry and Micro Analysis (CAAM) of the University of Chieti.
She is a member of editorial board of the scientific review Temporis Signa. Archeologia della tarda antichità e del medioevo, published by the Fondazione Centro Italiano di Studi sull’alto medioevo di Spoleto;
Member of the editorial board of the editorial series PAST (Percorsi, Strumenti e Temi di Archeologia);
Member of the Council of post classical archaeologists;
Member of the Society of Italian Medievalist Archaeologists (SAMI).
She is the Supervisor of Abruzzo catacombs for the Pontifical Commission of Christian Archeology (SCV).
She is a member of the Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology (SCV)
Didactic activity
A.A. 1997/98, Adjunct Professor (art. 25 DPR 382/80), of Methodology and tools for topographic research (Chieti, University);
A.A. 1998-99, Adjunct Professor (dell’ art. 100 DPR 382/80) of Medieval Archaeology in the same University
From AA1998-99 to 2001-2002, Professor of Medieval Archaeology, University Diploma in Cultural Heritage Operator of the Chieti University.
From AA 2001-2002 to 2008-2009, Professor of Christian Archaeology, for the Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Heritage Operator, Faculty of Literature and Philosophy, Chieti University.
From AA2003-2004 to 2008-2009 Professor of Christian Archaeology, for the specialist degree in Archaeology from the same University.
From AA 2005/2006 to 2008-2009 Professor of Medieval Archaeology for the Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Heritage Operator from the same University. For the same AA she was entrusted with teaching also for the specialist degree in Archaeology of the same University.
From AA 2005/2006 to 2008-2009 Professor of Medieval Topography for the specialist degree in Archaeology of the same University.
From AA 2009-2010 to 2012-2013 Professor of Christian and Medieval Archaeology for the Bachelor’s degree in Literature of the same University;
From AA 2009-2010 to 2017-2018 Professor of Medieval Archaeology and Topography for the Master degree in Archaeology of the same University.
AA 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 Professor of Medieval Topography IA cod. 1025095, for the Course of Archaeological Sciences, University of Rome “La Sapienza”.
From AA 2011-2012 to 2016-2017, Professor of Medieval Topography for the School of Specialization in Archaeology, University of Rome Sapienza;
From AA. 2013-2014 to 2014-2015, Professor of Christian and Medieval Archaeology for the Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Heritage, Chieti University;
From AA 2015-2016 Professor of Archaeology and Topography of the ancient and medieval landscape for Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Heritage, Chieti University;
From AA 2018-2019 Professor of Archaeology of Medieval Europe for Master degree in Archaeology, Chieti University.
Other university activity
President of the Master’s Degree Course in Cultural Heritage: Archaeology and History Art (2019 - )
Member of the QA Group of the three-year degree course in Cultural Heritage
Tutor for the courses of Cultural Heritage and of Cultural Heritage: Archaeology and History Art
Member of Department Board (Disputer) (2016-2020)
Member of Departmental Research Quality and Third Mission Commission (2018-2019)
Member of the Departmental Commission for the Quality of Teaching Methods (2021- )
Scientific Activity
Since 1994 she has taken part in various research projects (40%, 60%, CNR, COFIN), relating the late antique and medieval topography.
Has directed the following funded research:
2002-2013 Cantieri, maestranze e tecniche edilizie in Abruzzo tra tarda antichità e medioevo, University found (ex 60%);
2007-2010 Condizioni sociali e variazioni climatiche quali fattori delle dinamiche insediative medievali (VI-XV secolo): le valli comprese tra i fiumi Vibrata e Tordino, PRIN 2007, national coord. Prof. P. Peduto.
2012-2015 Storia e Archeologia globale dei paesaggi rurali in Italia tra Tardoantico e Medioevo. Sistemi integrati di fonti, metodi e tecnologie per uno sviluppo sostenibile, UR di Chieti PRIN 2010-11 national coord. Prof. G. Volpe.
2014-2016 Continuità e trasformazioni negli assetti territoriali tra tarda antichità ed
alto medioevo in area centro italica, University found (ex 60%)
2016-2017 European Project linea Tempus Modernizing the 3rd cycle at the University of Prishtina and Developing a PhD Program at the Faculty of Economics (MODPhd).
2016-2017 European Project linea Tempus FOREIGN LANGUAGES EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES (FLEPP).
2016-2019 Coordination for the Department DisPuTer Chiet University of the Project Valorizzazione e Sviluppo dei Beni Storico-Culturali, Archeologici, Ambientali delle Tradizioni delle “Terre dei Peligni” PAR FSC REGIONE ABRUZZO 2007-2013. Linea di azione 1.2.4.a. “Definizione ed attuazione di un programma di sviluppo della Valle Peligna”.
2017-2020 Ambiente, risorse, prodotti e uomini per la ricostruzione del paesaggio dell’Italia centrale tra antichità e medioevo, University found (ex 60%);
2020 - L’edilizia storica come strumento per la ricostruzione del territorio tra antichità e medioevo: tecniche, materiali, commitenti e maestranze, University found (ex 60%).
Other Projects
2006-2007 scientific consultant for the archaeological problems of the Middle Ages to the project Teate. Il disegno di una città promoted by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio della Provincia di Chieti with the Soprintendenza Archeologica of Chieti, the Department of Sciences of Antiquity and the Faculty of Architecture, Chieti University.
2007-2010 mission of the University of Chieti in Lybia (Cyrenaica), as regards the problems of urban transformations and rural areas in the Late Ancient end Byzantine period (Lamluda, Tolemaide).
2011-2013 Archaeological Survey in the area of Pyrgos (Cyprus), conducted by University of Chieti, with the responsibility for the post-classical phases.
Since 2013 she has coordinated the Corfinio 2.0 Department Prject, aimed the study and enhancement of the roman municipium of Corfinium.
Dal 2013 she is responsible for the Abruzzo Project CARE (Corpus Architecturae Relgiosae Europeae) (Italia), coordinated by the University of Padua.
Excavation Activities
She has collaborated in numerous archaeological excavations in Roma (Palatino, Abbazia delle Tre Fontane, catacombs of Generosa), in Lazio (S. Ippolito all’Isola Sacra), in Sardegna (Cornus, Bauladu), in Umbria (Assisi), in Abruzzo (Rovere, S. Vittorino (Amiterno), catacombs of Castelvecchio Subequo);
Since 1994 she has been part of the research group of the “Leopoli-Cencelle” project of the University of Rome Sapienza, directing activities releted to the University of Chieti.
She directed the excavations:
2006-2010 Castel Manfrino (Valle Castellana,TE),
2006-2010 Abbazia di S. Liberatore (Serramonacesca, PE),
2006-2010 Convento di S. Pietro (Roccamontepiano, CH),
2006-2010: Castello di Ripalta vecchia (Mafalda, CB).
2009-2011 Monastero dei SS. Vito e Salvo, (S.Salvo, Ch)
2009 Aveia (Fossa, AQ)
2013-2018 Complesso valvense (Corfinio,AQ)
2013-2014 Fonte S. Ippolito (Corfinio, AQ)
2017 Iuvanum, Acropoli (Montenerodomo, CH)
Curator of Exhibitions and Museums
• antiquarium of Castel Manfrino, at the visitor center of the Gran Sasso-Monti della Laga National Park in Macchia da Sole (Valle Castellana, TE) (2006)
• Exhibition “Forma e vita di una città medievale: Leopoli-Cencelle”, with L. Ermini Pani and F.R. Stasolla, Roma, Mercati di Traiano, 3 aprile-27 luglio 2014.
Organization Congress
• International Congress “De re monastica, II. Cantieri e maestranze nell’Italia Medievale”, Chieti-San Salvo 16-18 maggio 2008
• International Congress Ancient Modern Towns. I centri urbani a continuità di vita: archeologia e valorizzazione, Chieti-Corfinio, 30 settembre-2 ottobre 2015
• workshop Parchi archeologici: tutela, valorizzazione, gestione di
paesaggi e di storie. Idee per Corfinio, Corfinio, 19-20 maggio 2016
• International Congress Archaeologiae Una storia al plurale. Studi e ricerche in memoria di Sara Santoro, Chieti 7-9 novembre 2017.