The project for the conservation of the South-West side of Palatine Hill

Before any conservation action, the entire area had to be surveyed and mapped carefully in order to produce documentation of its present state. Such work has been accomplished recently with great care.
The preliminary project for the conservation of this important area of the Palatine stems from the necessity to solve the most urgent problems of the rain water drainage and of the protection from the disgregative action of the water itself.
An extensive research work already started some years ago (Prof. Krause and other) in order to know the extension of the ancient roman sewage system. The sewage network is very complicated and not used since the Roman ages; moreover, collapses and filling of the ancient ducts make it difficult and time consuming the knowledge of the original system. After mapping of the sewage network, a more definite project will be drawn, choosing which part of the ancient ducts are to be restored and used again.
Of course, owing to the collapses and changing of the structures during the centuries, additional works will be planned in order to complete the draining system.
In the same time the upper abandoned excavations will be filled with light material to restore a flat roof on the top; this roof will be protected with waterproofing material and equipped with draining systems.
The adoption of protecting canopies or other visible roofing systems will be considered only as provisional during the works, due to the negative impact on the landscape.
When necessary, soil stabilization and waterproofing will be reached by the use of geotexile materials, bentonite clays or other systems.
Old conservation works made by metal bars will be replaced and upgraded. A system of tie-beam has been planned in the most damaged and dangerous parts.
The solution of the problem of tuff deterioration has been studied extensively, but it is not easy.
The elimination of the rain water coming from the top of the area and from the sloping portions, will surely improve the situation. A further step will probably include the protection from the rain water (of the most delicate parts) by the use of canopies or other roofing systems with a minimum esthetical impact: the use of transparent materials are at the moment not excluded.
A series of partial re-constructions or protective small substructions are also under study.
The arrangement of the whole area is quite complex and will require some time; however, it is necessary since now to ensure the basic actions in order to avoid possible collapses of the structures and further decay of the most exposed archaeological parts of the area.
Besides the general projects, more detailed work-plans will be decided during the progress of the restoration works, owing to the present difficulty of getting exact information about the constitution of the portions (constructions and ground) behind and below many walls and foundations.