Archaeology on the Apulian - Lucanian Border

The Bradano River and its tributary, the Basentello, divide the Apennine Mountains in Lucania from the limestone plateau of the Murge in Apulia in South East Italy. The archaeology on the Apulian-Lucanian Border aims to explain how the pattern of settlement and land use changed in the valley over the period from Neolithic to Late Medieval, taking account of changing environmental conditions and setting the changes in a broader political, social, and cultural context.

Format: Hardback
Length: 906 pages
Publication date: 26 May 2022
Publisher: Archaeopress

The Bradano River and its tributary, the Basentello, serve as a natural boundary between the Apennine Mountains in Lucania and the limestone plateau of the Murge in Apulia, South East Italy. For countless centuries, this valley has acted as a cultural and political divide, separating the two regions and serving as a conduit for new ideas to flow from South to North or vice versa, depending on the prevailing political and economic conditions.

Archaeology on the Apulian-Lucanian Border endeavors to unravel the intricate tapestry of settlement and land use changes that unfolded throughout the valley's extensive history, spanning from the Neolithic to the Late Medieval era. By considering the interplay between evolving environmental conditions and broader political, social, and cultural contexts, this research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the valley's development.

The study is structured into three distinct levels of focus. The first level encompasses a field survey conducted between 1996 and 2006, led by teams from the Universities of Alberta, Edinburgh, and Bari, with the authors serving as the project directors. This survey focused specifically on the Basentello valley and yielded valuable insights into the region's historical landscape.

The second level delves into the discoveries of earlier field surveys conducted in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which were in conjunction with excavations at Botromagno near Gravina in Puglia. These surveys shed light on the valley's archaeological heritage and contribute to our understanding of its development.

The third level is a broader synthesis of the results of recent scholarship, drawing upon archaeological, epigraphic, and literary sources to reconstruct an archaeological history of the valley and its surrounding area. This comprehensive approach allows for a more holistic understanding of the region's past.

One of the book's key themes revolves around the creation of a vast imperial estate at Vagnari, which occurred around the end of the 1st century BC. This estate had a profound impact on the pattern of settlement in the area, shaping the spatial distribution of communities and influencing economic and social dynamics. The later chapters of the book delve into the long-lasting legacy of this estate and its influence on the region's development.

Through meticulous research and analysis, Archaeology on the Apulian-Lucanian Border offers a rich and detailed account of the valley's historical trajectory. It sheds light on the complex interplay between environmental factors, political dynamics, and cultural exchange, providing valuable insights into the region's past and contributing to our broader understanding of South East Italy's historical landscape.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 290 x 205 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803270647