This study presents four case studies that elaborate on the results of two field survey projects (the Astura and the Nettuno surveys) that were carried within the ambit of the Pontine Region Project. These comprise 1) revisits to previously mapped sites, 2) the study of a local museum collection, 3) intensive on-site surveys and 4) small-scale excavations at a reference site for the Late Roman and Early Medieval period. The results obtained provide detailed insight the settlement dynamics for the study area and increase the potential of the dataset to approach different aspects of the Roman economy (such as trade, town-countryside relations, demography). At the same time, the study contributes to our understanding of biasing factors associated with archaeological survey.
Reviews
“This is an excellent piece of work; mature and assured which fits with the long series of outstanding Dutch work, led by Peter Attema. Students of methodology and those interested in central Italy will benefit from the careful presentation of the results (it is characterised by substantial illustrations of local coarseware) and the intriguing results. It is instructive to read it alongside the other doctoral thesis produced at the same time by the project, by T. C. A. de Haas, who focuses on Roman colonization and uses a off-site survey data.” Christopher Smith, BMCR 2013.01.52
Alessandro M. Jaia, Gnomon 87 (2015), 86-89
Mandich, Journal of Roman Studies 104 (November 2014), 246-47
Revello Lami, Journal of Roman Archaeology 27 (2014), 630-35
Christopher Smith, BMCR 2013.01.52
Acknowledgements xi
Introduction xii
0.1 Developments in survey archaeology xii
0.2 Survey data and the study of socio-economic issues xiii
0.3 Research aims and methods xvi
0.4 Structure of the thesis xvi
Chapter 1 – Historiography and archaeology 1
1.1 Geology of the study area 1
1.2 Historical and archaeological research in the study area: an overview 1
1.3 Roads and waterways: connectivity in the study area 14
1.4 The Pontine Region Project 16
Chapter 2 – Methodological background of the study 32
2.1 Site dating 32
2.2 Site function 37
2.3 Site development 37
2.4 Problem orientated case studies – introduction of the dataset 38
Chapter 3 – Case study 1: Revisiting previously mapped sites 50
3.1 Background of the study 50
3.2 The revisits 50
3.3 The material remains 53
3.4 Overall consumption levels for the study area 63
3.5 Chronological developments 66
3.6 Spatial differentiation in settlement 74
3.7 Spatial differentiation in pottery consumption 76
3.8 Establishing site function 77
3.9 Exploring site contemporaneity 77
3.10 Conclusion: contribution to the settlement history 79
3.11 Conclusion: the quantitative value of integrating the revisits with previous (GIA) fieldwork 79
3.12 Concluding remarks 80
Chapter 4 – Case study 2: Study of the archaeological collection of the antiquarium di Nettuno 134
4.1 The archaeological collection of the antiquarium di Nettuno 134
4.2 The material evidence 136
4.3 The museum collection – generic toponyms 140
4.4 Chronological developments 144
4.5 Spatial differentiation in settlement 152
4.6 Identifying special sites 152
4.7 Conclusion: contribution to the settlement history 153
4.8 Conclusion: the quantitative value of integrating the museum collection and GIA fieldwork 153
4.9 Concluding remarks 154
Chapter 5 – Case study 3: The execution of intensive on-site surveys 212
5.1 The representativity of surface distributions: post-depositional processes 212
5.2 Methodology 213
5.3 Site 15034 216
5.4 Site 15085-03 219
5.5 Site 15085-04 228
5.6 Site 15106 233
5.7 Evaluation of the results 237
5.8 Methodological reflections 241
5.9 Comparing methods 241
5.10 Concluding remarks 243
Chapter 6 – Case-study 4: A road station on the Tabula Peutingeriana. Excavations at Astura 298
6.1 Background of the study 298
6.2 The excavation 298
6.3 The collected materials 301
6.4 Discussion of the results 317
6.5 Concluding remarks 321
Chapter 7 – Synthesis 363
7.1 Integrating previous and current results 363
7.2 Settlement history between the Archaic (650 – 500 BC) and the early Medieval period (AD 550 – 700) 366
7.3 Solutions to survey data problems? Assessing the added value of the four case studies 382
7.4 Evaluation of the results and future directions 383
Bibliography 388
Nederlandse samenvatting 404
