Centro di Ricerche sulle Colonie Locresi / Centre de Recherches sur les Colonies Locriennes

Since 2017, Pázmány Péter Catholic University has supported archaeological research conducted in the Calabria region of southern Italy. At present, this is the only fieldwork in classical archaeology led by a Hungarian university research group that takes place on-site, in a geographical area once inhabited by ancient Greek and Italic cultures.

Between 2017 and 2020, our research group—bringing together former and current students of PPKE, students from other Hungarian and international universities, and museum professionals—focused on the study of votive terracotta figurines found in the most important sanctuary district of ancient Medma.

The processing of this material—of outstanding importance from archaeological, art historical, and religious historical perspectives—was made possible with the permission of the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria and the competent heritage authority (Soprintendenza ABAP). From the beginning, our work has been supported by the École Française de Rome and the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest, and since 2020 also by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei.

Since March 2020, the planning and coordination of these research activities have been carried out within the CERCOLOC Research Group at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of PPKE.

The significance of our first research project is further enhanced by its alignment with an increasingly important trend in heritage management: the processing, restoration, classification, and cataloguing of finds from earlier excavations—often conducted decades ago—that still remain unpublished or insufficiently studied. Our work addresses this need through the study of material excavated at the Calderazzo site of Medma in 1912–1913 by Paolo Orsi, in collaboration with Hungarian conservators and Italian and French IT specialists.

The research program initiated from the study of Medma’s terracotta sculpture has since developed into a broader, multifaceted collaboration. From 2021 onward, the Research Group aims to systematically investigate the remains of Medma and Hipponion, two neighboring and closely connected Greek city-states. According to tradition, both were founded by citizens of Locri Epizephyrii, the most important Greek polis in the region. However, the details of the relationships among these three cities still require extensive research—from geographical and topographical perspectives to cultural connections and the social relationships of their inhabitants.

Our planned projects for the coming years aim to address these questions through multiple approaches. Between 2021 and 2026, our primary focus remains the processing of finds from earlier excavations, including:

  • the sanctuary areas of Scrimbia and Cofino in Hipponion (from the Archaic and Classical periods), closely related to Medma
  • the Greek necropolis of Hipponion

In the long term, these studies are expected to be complemented by topographical research and excavation projects exploring connections between the regional centers.

In interpreting finds from the cult sites of the Locrian sphere, particular emphasis is placed on art historical and religious historical approaches. Through these, we hope our research will yield results of broader significance for Classical studies as a whole.

The Research Group also considers the training of future professionals a priority. Continuing and expanding the practices of earlier seasons, we aim to provide Hungarian university students, doctoral candidates, and young researchers with opportunities to engage directly with ancient material remains at an important site of classical cultures—ranging from field practice to thesis topics and publication opportunities.

 

Members of the Scientific Advisory Board
  • Ermanno A. Arslan – full member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, former director of the Archaeological Museum of Milan
  • Ágnes Bencze – PPKE, Department of Art History
  • József Beszédes – PPKE, Institute of Archaeology
  • Francesco D'Andria – corresponding member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, professor emeritus at the University of Salento
  • Elvira Pataki – PPKE, Institute of Classical and Neo-Latin Studies
  • Claude Pouzadoux – director of the Centre Jean Bérard (CNRS)
  • Franco Prampolini – Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria
  • Claudio Sabbione – former inspector of the Archaeological Superintendency of Calabria
  • Fabrizio Sudano – superintendent of Soprintendenza ABAP (Catanzaro, Cosenza, Crotone districts)
  • Lóránt Vass – PPKE, Institute of Archaeology

 

Publications Available Online
  • Autumn 2018 – Summer 2019: Sanctuaries of Medma, temporary exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest
  • Recherches sur les terres cuites votives de Medma – CEFR 2019 →
  • Terres cuites votives de Medma – CEFR 2020 →