Rita Auriemma

Rita Auriemma is an Associate Professor in the Department of Cultural Heritage at the University of Salento, where she has been teaching Underwater Archaeology since the 1998-1999 academic year. She also teaches Cataloguing Methods and Promotion Strategies for Cultural Heritage and Archaeology of Coastal and Underwater Landscapes at the 'Dinu Adamesteanu' School of Specialization in Archaeological Heritage. Previously, she served as director of the Regional Institute for Cultural Heritage of Friuli Venezia Giulia (IPAC) from 2015 to 2016 and as director of the Cataloguing, Training, and Research Service of ERPAC until 2018. She currently serves as scientific coordinator of the Euromediterranean Seascapes Archaeology Center (ESAC) promoted by the Puglia Region.

Dr. Auriemma's research focuses on the archaeology of coastal landscapes through consideration of geomorphological and paleoclimatic issues and ancient settlement patterns. Her work integrates landscape archaeology with public archaeology as tools for sustainable territorial development. She has developed several Geographic Information Systems for cultural heritage documentation, including the Underwater Archaeological Map of Southern Puglia, now integrated into the Map of the Cultural Heritage of Puglia - CartaApulia. Her investigations aim at understanding, protecting, and enhancing seascapes through GIS technologies, and she has been involved in numerous rescue archaeology projects in Puglia and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Her research also examines ancient economic history through maritime routes, trade goods, and markets, particularly through ceramological analyses of underwater and terrestrial contexts.

Dr. Auriemma's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on underwater archaeology, coastal landscapes, and maritime trade routes in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Her work has increasingly incorporated digital documentation methods and public engagement strategies for the sustainable valorization of underwater cultural heritage. The integration of GIS technologies, 3D imaging, and public outreach initiatives represents a significant trend in her scholarly output, reflecting her commitment to making archaeological knowledge accessible while advancing technical methodologies in the field.

Dr. Auriemma has received notable recognition for her contributions to maritime archaeology:

• Vela Latina Award - 'Week of Maritime Culture' (Gallipoli 2019)
• International Award Satyrion for Archaeology - XXII edition (Leporano, Ta, 18.09.2021)

Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Auriemma has directed and participated in numerous national and international research projects, including 'AltoAdriatico,' 'The Landscape as Museum,' 'Cuis. Submerged Ugento,' 'Stories from the Sea,' and the 'Underwater Archaeological Map of Southern Puglia.' She has been involved in significant PRIN projects and the INTERREG V-A Italy-Croatia CBC Programme 'UnderwaterMuse.' Her work extends to museum curation and exhibition design, including scientific direction of the City Museum of the Ancient Sea of Nardò and the City Archaeological Museum of Muggia.

As scientific coordinator of the Euromediterranean Seascapes Archaeology Center (ESAC), Dr. Auriemma leads interdisciplinary research on Mediterranean seascapes through collaboration with researchers from multiple universities and institutions. Through ESAC and other initiatives, she continues to advance the understanding and protection of underwater cultural heritage in the Mediterranean region, emphasizing the importance of integrated approaches that combine archaeological research, digital documentation, and community engagement.