Dalle Rotte Alle Strade

The Colli Albani is a region close to Rome that has been extensively investigated both in the past and during the scientific supervision of the Superintendency, often preceding modern building activities. Combining data from recent excavation campaigns and legacy data, this research focuses on the specific topics of the communication routes and settlement dynamics on the western slopes of the Alban crater.

Geomorphology has been used as a key to better understand the morphological features that most influenced the use of the territory by the human communities. To this end, known archaeological remains were superimposed onto the geomorphological map revealing how human activity is most intense near and on the volcanic ridges. Moreover, the intersections between radial and concentric ridges appear of major importance, as is clear from two cases study sites in the Marcandreola area (Ciampino, Rome). Here, several use-phases of the most important route in the area, as the so-called via Castrimeniense, traces of volcanic activity in historical times, and intensive cult activity, were identified. From this it has been possible to redraw the gradual exploitation of this territory before it was conquered by Rome.