The origins of the Tiber Island in Rome

This paper presents the latest results from a geoarchaeological coring survey of Rome’s central river valley: new evidence demonstrates that the Tiber Island did not exist during the early centuries of human habitation at the site of Rome. Instead, the area was characterised by a low, seasonal bar formation on the riverbed, which would conceivably have aided prehistoric fording activity. The Tiber Island first emerged as a permanent land mass as a result of rapid sedimentation in the late sixth century b.c.e. We discuss the potential causes of this major topographic change and argue that intensive deforestation to support building activities in the region was a major factor. Overall, this research sheds light on the dynamic landscape of early Rome as well as new details on the consequences of environmental exploitation that occurred alongside archaic urbanisation in Tyrrhenian central Italy.