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Abstract
AbstractIn Roman landscapes, the particular sites defined as secondary settlements (also known asvici/villages, minor centres,agglomérations secondairesand/orstationes/mansiones) have played an ‘intermediary’ role between the cities and other rural structures (villae/farms), linked to medium- and long-distance economic and commercial trajectories. The aim of this paper is to apply a multi-scalar approach to model their long-term spatial relationships and connectivity with the Mediterranean exchange network. On the macro-scale, we have analysed a sample of 219 reviewed sites to understand the diachronic trends and spatial dynamics of attraction/proximity to significant elements of the landscape such as towns, roads, rivers and coastline. The Ombrone Valley (Tuscany, Italy) represents a micro-scale case study of a complex system, in which the imported pottery (amphorae, African Red Slip ware,ingobbiata di rosso) found in thevicus/mansioof Santa Cristina in Caio, the Romanvillaof La Befa and the town of Siena (Saena Iulia) provided diagnostic ‘macroeconomic’ perspectives. The results show how the secondary settlements occupied a nodal position in the Roman landscape in terms of resilience (long period of occupation until the Early Middle Ages) and spatial organization with a close relationship to natural and anthropic infrastructures and trade functions linked to Mediterranean routes.
Highlights
Introduction to the Study of SecondarySettlementsTheory and MethodArchaeological research into indicators for defining Roman settlements as ‘secondary’ (Leveau 2012; Garmy 2012), a theoretical intermediate between towns and villae, is still emerging (Fig. 10.1)
Only a certain number of excavated sites were identified as secondary settlements: they are characterized as places with a specific role in the roads of the cursus publicus and/or rural agglomerations of the vicanico type
The curves representing the continuity of use of the secondary settlements indicate a strong longue durée, with a high percentage of Roman sites settled in areas which were previously already occupied
Summary
Archaeological research into indicators for defining Roman settlements as ‘secondary’ (agglomération secondaire) (Leveau 2012; Garmy 2012), a theoretical intermediate between towns and villae, is still emerging (see Crogiez 1990, 391; Chevallier 1997, 284; Mezzolani 1992 113; Corsi 2000, 186; Maggi and Zaccaria 1994, 163–168; Cantino Wataghin et al 2007, 88; Goffredo et al 2013) (Fig. 10.1). A different spatial analysis allowed us to identify the ‘unique element’ closest to rivers, roads, coasts and cities for each settlement: in this case, the proximity to roads constitutes the most attractive element with 46.6%, followed by rivers (41.1%), coastlines (11.4%) and towns (0.9%). Towns appear to exercise a centrifugal and bumping force, creating an area of ‘respect’ related to the authority of the town, which is not seen around ‘secondary rank’ settlement types This ‘hegemonic’ role of the cities characterized by its surroundings empty of large sites, such as secondary settlements, is well explained in the classic geographical theories of central places (Christaller 1980) and rank-size law (Zipf 1949). The relative frequency percentages indicate the same trend outlined for secondary settlements: a maximum peak in the sites located 0–1 km from roads (34%) and rivers (27.9%) and a minimum for coasts (12.5%) and cities (0%). The places chosen for reuse for the construction of a church were those in proximity to a road (50%) or river (37%) and further from the coast line (13%); 39.1% of the sites were located within 2 km of a road, 30.4% within 2 km of a river and 13% within 2 km of the coastline
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