Ancient earthen constructions and antiseismic dwellings: Boni's project after the earthquake of 13th January 1915 (Avezzano, Italy)
Main Article Content
Abstract
After the earthquake of 13th January 1915, the archaeologist Giacomo Boni (1859-1925), inspired by ancient
building techniques. proposed the reconstruction of Marsica and the Middle Liri Valley with earthen dwellings.
With the cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, he organized an exhibition where he collected
samples of vegetal trellises which were an essential support to implement these techniques. Furthermore, he
rebuilt two huts on the Palatine (Orti Farnesiani): one rectangular, the other circular, inspired by terracotta urns
which he himself had discovered a few years earlier exploring the famous ancient tombs in the Forum Romanum,
near the temple of Antonino and Faustina, by the Via Sacra. Boni's unusual proposal was intended as
an alternative to the plans put forward by seismic engineering which was developing in Italy at that time. This
is a prime example of a clash between two different outlooks and cultures (humanism versus science) each of
which claimed to offer solutions to attenuate the effect of earthquakes. We have so far been unable to establish
whether any earthen dwellings were actually constructed in Marsica or the surroundings of Sora for the survivors
of the earthquake of 13th January 1915. Unfortunately, only one of the many houses built with this
technique. still existing in the Soran countryside can be dated (1924).
building techniques. proposed the reconstruction of Marsica and the Middle Liri Valley with earthen dwellings.
With the cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, he organized an exhibition where he collected
samples of vegetal trellises which were an essential support to implement these techniques. Furthermore, he
rebuilt two huts on the Palatine (Orti Farnesiani): one rectangular, the other circular, inspired by terracotta urns
which he himself had discovered a few years earlier exploring the famous ancient tombs in the Forum Romanum,
near the temple of Antonino and Faustina, by the Via Sacra. Boni's unusual proposal was intended as
an alternative to the plans put forward by seismic engineering which was developing in Italy at that time. This
is a prime example of a clash between two different outlooks and cultures (humanism versus science) each of
which claimed to offer solutions to attenuate the effect of earthquakes. We have so far been unable to establish
whether any earthen dwellings were actually constructed in Marsica or the surroundings of Sora for the survivors
of the earthquake of 13th January 1915. Unfortunately, only one of the many houses built with this
technique. still existing in the Soran countryside can be dated (1924).
Article Details
How to Cite
Beranger, E. M. (1995) “Ancient earthen constructions and antiseismic dwellings: Boni’s project after the earthquake of 13th January 1915 (Avezzano, Italy)”, Annals of Geophysics, 38(5-6). doi: 10.4401/ag-4088.
Issue
Section
OLD
Open-Access License
No Permission Required
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia applies the Creative Commons Attribution License (CCAL) to all works we publish.
Under the CCAL, authors retain ownership of the copyright for their article, but authors allow anyone to download, reuse, reprint, modify, distribute, so long as the original authors and source are cited. No permission is required from the authors or the publishers.
In most cases, appropriate attribution can be provided by simply citing the original article.
If the item you plan to reuse is not part of a published article (e.g., a featured issue image), then please indicate the originator of the work, and the volume, issue, and date of the journal in which the item appeared. For any reuse or redistribution of a work, you must also make clear the license terms under which the work was published.
This broad license was developed to facilitate open access to, and free use of, original works of all types. Applying this standard license to your own work will ensure your right to make your work freely and openly available. For queries about the license, please contact ann.geophys@ingv.it.