An overview of the field campaigns, expert meetings and public events through which the Landscapes of Early Roman Colonization project studies how Roman settlers reshaped the land.
The project combines landscape archaeology, palaeoenvironmental analysis and spatial modelling. Its activities are designed to connect field observations with the wider history of colonization in early Rome and its hinterland.
Team members carry out systematic surveys of settlement sites, centuriated land and rural farmsteads. Each campaign records surface finds, soil profiles and the traces of ancient field boundaries to build a detailed picture of land use.
Sediment cores taken from valley floors and former lake margins are analysed for pollen, charcoal and micro-particles. These records show how farming, clearance and irrigation changed vegetation as colonists arrived.
Field data are entered into a shared geographic database where they are linked with historical maps, satellite imagery and elevation models. This allows the team to test hypotheses about settlement density, road networks and water management across entire regions.
Activities follow a phased schedule that moves from regional survey to detailed analysis and public dissemination.
Existing excavation reports, cadastral maps and archive material are compiled to define the study areas and identify gaps in the evidence.
Survey teams work through the selected valleys, sampling sediments and documenting surface scatters of pottery, tile and building material.
Laboratory results are integrated with spatial models to reconstruct how colonial landscapes developed over successive generations.
Selected views from the project campaigns, workshops and study visits.
Specialists in archaeology, geology and history meet to compare evidence and agree on shared interpretive frameworks.
Early-career researchers take part in survey and laboratory training, learning the methods used in the project.
Open lectures and site visits share findings with local communities and visitors interested in the Roman past.
Find out about upcoming campaigns, workshops and public events, or get in touch to discuss collaboration.
Contact the Project