Managing water risks in archaeological sites: the flooding of the complex of Santa Croce in Ravenna.

The paper deals with flooding-driven emergency situations and related managerial issues in archaeological contexts. The essay takes into consideration possible damages due to the interaction between water and cultural heritage materials, with a focus on the skills required to the operators called to intervene. The complex of Santa Croce, in Ravenna, encompasses a Church (5th century AD) and the remains of a Roman domus decoratedwith mosaic floor. In August 2019, the archaeological area was flooded for, at the time, unknown reasons leading to the overgrowing of algae. Studies and surveys undertaken by the local Soprintendenza since 1993 demonstrated that the water criticalities of the site are linkable to the phenomenon of subsidence and, maybe, to the increasing pressure of the aquifers affecting the level of groundwater. The water emergency was solved thanks to the water pumping interventions carried out by the Municipality of Ravenna and Civil Protection volunteers, while the Soprintendenza took charge of the securing operations and cleaning of the site. This contribution will provide a discussion upon methodologies and tools that have been selected to solve the flood emergency and the effectiveness of the surveys conducted in the preliminary phase. In line with the European project H2020 SHELTER and its expected outcomes, achieved results will provide a preliminary assessment of the site criticalities, also contributing to the establishment of new food for thought regarding the management of flooding and hydrogeological risks in archaeological areas.