Since the late 1980s the Laboratory for Ancient Topography of the University of Pisa has been carrying out archaeological surveys within the mountainous area of the Polcevera Valley (North Apennines, Central Liguria). Towards an appraisal of the ancient history of this landscape it seemed clear that data retrieved from traditional survey approaches (i.e. site-recovery issues) and interpretations based on traditional material classes (i.e. Roman fine-wares) could only emphasise the marginal character of the Valley as related to Rome and its territorial expectations (in fact mirroring the general views expressed by ancient authors about Liguria). At the same time, an outstanding epigraphic source, the Sententia Minuciorum (117 BC), reported of Ligurian economic and social structures, surviving even along a major Roman road (the via Postumia, 148 BC) and preserving a specific way of life. This paper aims to outlining the distinctive character of the Valley across Antiquity from a more embedded perspective, touching also on both the methodological and interpretative implications that researchers have to face in dealing with such a liminal - marginal landscape.
Researching on the margins:Landscape Archaeology in the Polcevera Valley
PASQUINUCCI, NELLA MARIA;
2009-01-01
Abstract
Since the late 1980s the Laboratory for Ancient Topography of the University of Pisa has been carrying out archaeological surveys within the mountainous area of the Polcevera Valley (North Apennines, Central Liguria). Towards an appraisal of the ancient history of this landscape it seemed clear that data retrieved from traditional survey approaches (i.e. site-recovery issues) and interpretations based on traditional material classes (i.e. Roman fine-wares) could only emphasise the marginal character of the Valley as related to Rome and its territorial expectations (in fact mirroring the general views expressed by ancient authors about Liguria). At the same time, an outstanding epigraphic source, the Sententia Minuciorum (117 BC), reported of Ligurian economic and social structures, surviving even along a major Roman road (the via Postumia, 148 BC) and preserving a specific way of life. This paper aims to outlining the distinctive character of the Valley across Antiquity from a more embedded perspective, touching also on both the methodological and interpretative implications that researchers have to face in dealing with such a liminal - marginal landscape.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
