Il complesso episcopale di Milano: dall’insediamento romano al duomo visconteo. Una problematica sintesi diacronica The Episcopal complex of Milan: From the Roman establishment to the Visconti cathedral. A diachronic problematic synthesis

The project “Piazza Duomo before the Duomo” has involved the archaeological site of the Episcopal Complex in Milan, located under the churchyard of the Cathedral. The systematic review of archaeological and historical documentation, the stratigraphic surveys and the archaeometric approach allowed an overview of the problems linked to the topography and architectural evolution of the main buildings. This preliminary report shows: at the first time the recent and ancient excavations in this area and the methods to interpret and integrate the documentation of old excavations; at the second time the synthetic evolution of the buildings in this area before the construction of the 14th C. cathedral. A Roman residential neighbourhood with a public building were occupied by Christian buildings from the east to the west during the 4th and 5th c. The date of some buildings (above all St. Tecla) is revised with new arguments that will be presented in detail in the scientific edition of the episcopal complex, now in preparation.