Ancient settlement dynamics and predictive archaeological models for the Metapontum coastal area in Basilicata, southern Italy: from geomorphological survey to spatial analysis

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“…In many cases the data about site landform location had several interpretation errors so we used LIDAR scans to map the sites and the surrounding landforms. The Roman archaeological sites were mapped as point feature and have been structured by adding 5 new fields (Di Leo et al, 2017) A large variety of cartographic methods, proximity analysis and spatial analysis tools (point density, euclidean distance, near) were used in order to identify and analyze the connection between sites distribution and the geomorphic frame of the Timiș Valley from a geomorphic perspective. Three main factors were took into consideration: elevation, landform and water resources proximity.…”

Geoarchaeology and geomorphology of the Metaponto area, Ionian coastal belt, Italy

“…In fact, we can clearly observe a significant occupation of the coastal plain areas during the initial period of colonization followed by a gradual and significant increase of archaeological sites (mainly farmhouses) on the top of MT3, MT4 and MT5 marine terraces from Archaic to Classical-Hellenistic (EC-EE in Figure 3) ages, when human presence increases dramatically. Progressive occupation of marine terraces could suggest a deterioration of the pre-existing environmental setting of the coastal plain and the presence of better conditions for agricultural practices in the marine terrace areas during the Archaic and Hellenistic ages (see Di Leo et al, 2018 for a fuller discussion). Farmhouses in the Metaponto territory indeed increased from 39% of total sites during FC age to 63% during the EA-EC period (about 2520-2420 yr before BP) and, according to literary sources and archaeological research (Carter & Prieto, 2011;De Siena, 2001), Metaponto was affected by economic growth and a large increase in population from Archaic to Classical ages (De Siena, 2001).…”

“…Many works have focused on the multidisciplinary investigation of the interplay between humans and their environment in quite different geoarchaeological systems (sensu Schiattarella, Giano, & Guarino, 1998) during the Holocene or shorter historical time-spans (see for example Bini, Baroni, & Ribolini, 2013;Bravi, Fuscaldo, Guarino, & Schiattarella, 2003;Putignano, Orrù, & Schiattarella, 2014), testifying to the significant influence of landscape characteristics on human activities and settlement location (see for example Schmaltz, Märker, Rosner, & Kandel, 2014). Geoarchaeological research aimed at the definition of the settlement rules has frequently exploited topographic analyses and the automatic extraction of DEM-derived parameters (see for example Danese, Gioia, Biscione, & Masini, 2014;Danese, Masini, Biscione, & Lasaponara, 2014;De Jaeger et al, 2000;Di Leo et al, 2018;Gioia, Bavusi, Di Leo, Giammatteo, & Schiattarella, 2016;Silbernagel, Martin, Gale, & Chen, 1997;Turrero, Dominguez-Cuesta, Jimenez-Sanchez, & Garcia-Vazquez, 2013; among others) for the investigation of non-random distribution of archaeological sites and/or the development of predictive archaeology models (Vaughn & Crawford, 2009;Warren & Asch, 2000). Geomorphological analysis and landform mapping represent an alternative but effective approach to develop innovative digital products aimed at the valorization of areas with high archaeological value (Biscione, Danese, & Masini, 2018) or for solving geoarchaeological issues related to landscape archaeology, settlement patterns and the paths of ancient roads (see for example Gioia et al, 2016;Gioia, Del Lungo, Sannazzaro, & Lazzari, 2019;Verhagen & Dragut, 2012).…”

Origin and Circulation of Calcarenite Artifacts in the Area of Montescaglioso between 6th and 3rd Century BC: An Interdisciplinary Approach

“…The area object of the study is located in a strategic position, controlling the confluence of the rivers Bradano and Gravina-Fiumicello, which are closed to the norther border of the territory pertinence of the Greek colony of Metaponto (chora of Metaponto). This colony was founded in the 7th centuries BC by colons from the Achaean region (Peloponnese) [17][18][19][20]. The indigenous population living in Montescaglioso was in contact with the Greeks through a dense network of trades and exchanges, as documented by the material cultural evidence.…”