Restoration, Representation, Project: A Dialogue-Like Approach For The Compsa Palimpsest

Compsa is the name of the ancient town of Conza della Campania, situated on a hill in the oriental part of Irpinia, Italy. The hill dominates the valley of the Ofanto River, on the border between Campania and Basilicata, in a high seismic risk area. After the 1980 earthquake, which almost completely destroyed the town, it was re-built in a new site in the valley. The ruins of the old town have been protected since 2004 by the establishment of the Archaeological and Historical Park, which has left intact the surviving urban fabric. The destruction of Conza Cathedral has brought out the remains of the Samnite, Roman and medieval Compsa. The discovered structures, as documented by important archaeological studies, testify to one of the most stratified settlements in Irpinia. An extensive study over the entire urban area founded on the dialogue between the examples of the restoration project and the potential to represent it through innovative, instrumental researchprojects has revealed not only unedited historical data which have enriched our knowledge as regards the site, but also significant traces to elaborate on the proposed project so as to re-evaluate such a unique archaeological park. The extreme complexity of the theme, which involves the urban and panoramic dimensions as well as the architectural one includes also the need for the re-evaluation of the archaeological park and the extraordinary co-presence of ancient evidence where the remains of the town are made up of rubble.