GIS mapping of the archaeological sites in the Molise region (Italy)
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Ettore Valente [1] ; Marilena Cozzolino [2]
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[1] University of Naples Federico II
University of Naples Federico II
Nápoles, Italia
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[2] Università del Molise
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- Localización: Archeologia e calcolatori, ISSN 1120-6861, Nº. 30, 2019, págs. 367-385
- Idioma: inglés
- Enlaces
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Resumen
The Molise Region, on the Adriatic coast of southern Italy, experienced human presence since prehistoric times. Site distribution is not homogeneous throughout the region and a comprehensive census of all known archaeological sites has never been performed. In this paper, we present the results of a three-year project for the GIS mapping and database creation for all the known archaeological sites of the Molise Region. As a result, 3111 archaeological sites have been mapped, stored in a GIS database and then analysed through Spatial Analyst tools. Most of the mapped sites have been classified as area of archaeological finds (57.1% of the total sites), followed by settlements (12.9%) and buildings (9.8%). Site distribution is mainly clustered along the Biferno river valley, in the central and in the south-western sectors of the Molise Region. The largest human occupation of the region occurred during the Samnite and Roman ages. Archaeological sites are also located at different elevation a.s.l., with a general increasing trend of site elevation through time. This GIS database is, up to now, the most complete census of archaeological sites in the study area, thus representing a powerful tool to promote the archaeological heritage of the Molise Region and to address urban planning.
