Portus, Ostia and Rome: a transport zone in maritime/land interface
Résumé
Under the Empire, Portus, Ostia and Rome formed a perfect example of an integrated harbour complex composed of a fluvio-maritime harbour (Ostia), a seaport (Portus), and several fluvial harbours (Rome). The Tiber and several navigable canals, some of which were recently revealed by non-intrusive investigations and archaeological excavations, played a major role in ensuring that relationships between the different harbour zones remained safe. An efficient road system completed the network. Using the available data, this paper will attempt to investigate the harbour complex of Portus, Ostia and Rome as a specific geographical transport zone. In particular, this paper will focus on the waterway network and on some well-adapted fluvio-maritime vessels, the caudicariae, which were used for lightening maritime cargo vessels and fluvial transportation. The different shipping sections or transport zones of the Tiber will be described, and, finally, the interaction between these vessels and the transhipment infrastructures will be addressed.