Interdisciplinary project

with visual artist Nina Torp and Cecilia Conato Barbaro, the Museum of Prehistory at the Sapienza University of Rome and ‘The Farfa Valley Project’ in Rome, Italy

In the narrative of Rome's history, classical antiquity holds a position of absolute dominance; however, research in recent decades into the pre-protohistoric phases preceding the founding of the city in 753 B.C. has contributed to an innovative perspective. In the fields of archaeology and art history, the city of Rome stands as the model of classical cultural heritage and as a model of education. What do we know about Rome before this myth was created? Until a few years ago, the archaeological traces of prehistoric occupation, from the Neolithic to the beginning of the Bronze Age in Rome, were almost completely unknown.

In her first research project in Italy, visual artist Nina Torp works in various artistic forms, such as installations, sculptures, interventions and videos. Her interdisciplinary method draws on the ideas and practices of archaeology, architecture and museology, focusing on issues of collective memory and the perception and presentation of cultural history.

Nina Torp is currently working on an interdisciplinary project in collaboration with ‘The Farfa Valley Project’, an archaeological and palaeoenvironmental research project focusing on caves in northern Lazio, and the Museo delle Origini, the Museum of Prehistory of the Sapienza University of Rome.

The project consists of these activities:

An observational film is in progress 2025
Workshop in drawing and frottage technique with archaeologists from the ‘The Farfa Valley Project’ in June 2025
Site-specific solo exhibition in the Museum of Prehistory of the Sapienza University of Rome, opening 27 October 2023, lasting until 22 December 2023
Public conversation between Cecilia Conati Barbaro, Marie Kraft and Nina Torp, in the Museum of Prehistory of the Sapienza University of Rome: 10 November 2023, 18:00
Participation ‘The Farfa Valley Project’ excavation of Grotta Battifratta, just outside Rome in July 2023. The excavation is Sapienza University's interdisciplinary research project on human traces in prehistoric times
Artistic intervention in the Museum of Prehistory of the Sapienza University of Rome in March 2023. Two ceramic sculptures are installed in the museum's display case together with archaeological artefacts
Artist talk for archaeology students in ‘Public Archaeology’ about contemporary art and archaeology in March 2023
Fieldwork with BA Archaeology students in the lithic laboratory in February and March 2023
Fieldwork with staff and researchers in archaeology at the Museum of Prehistory of the Sapienza University of Rome in May 2022 and February, March, July, October and November 2023

The Museo delle Origini is the Museum of Prehistory at the Sapienza University of Rome, it’s collections describe the development of Italian prehistoric cultures from the Palaeolithic to the Early Iron Age. Cecilia Conati Barbaro is a Professor of Prehistoric Ecology and teaches at Sapienza. Her main area of study is Neolithic and Copper Age, with an emphasis on social, environmental and landscape archaeological issues. She has a solid field experience not only in Italy, where she works as project director or co-director on excavations and field surveys, but also Iraq and Libya. She integrates her research interests into teaching and she is actively involved in fostering public awareness of archaeological heritage. The strongly interdisciplinary research project ‘Farfa Valley project’ sees the participation, alongside archaeologists, of specialists from different scientific fields (geologists, palaeobotanists, archaeozoologists, anthropologists, physicists, chemists, etc.) intending to reconstruct past ways of life, resources and environments. Museo delle Origini was founded in 1942. Their mission is to communicate the goals, methods and results of research to the general public. The museum is designed as an open laboratory, encouraging students to contribute to the planning and preparation of exhibitions, to participate in conservation activities, and to be involved as guides for schools and visitors.

Research at the Grotta di Battifratta is conducted as part of a broader research project on the prehistoric settlement of the Farfa Valley and neighbouring territories financed by the Grandi Scavi Sapienza fund. The excavation is carried out under the concession of the Ministry of Culture, Soprintendenza ABAP Metropolitan Rome and the Province of Rieti. The strongly interdisciplinary approach of the research sees the participation, alongside archaeologists, of specialists from different scientific fields (geologists, palaeobotanists, archaeozoologists, anthropologists, physicists, chemists, etc.) intending to reconstruct past ways of life, resources and environments.

Nina Torps art project is supported by: