Integrated Approaches to Understanding Complex Long-Term Reclamation Processes in the Hinterland of Ravenna (Italy)

ABSTRACT In this paper, we aim to present the results of interdisciplinary research focusing on the surroundings of Lugo, a town in the hinterland of Ravenna. The area is known for the extraordinary preservation of the centuriated field system, although its ‘Roman’ origin has been rightly questioned in the last three decades. Our data show how this seemingly homogenous area has a complex history due to intense alluvial events. If artefact surveys have been helpful in studying the main trends in the evolution of settlement patterns, only a systematic geoarchaeological investigation has allowed us to better understand the physical transformations occurring in the landscape, their potential effect on the settlement suitability of the area, and the mechanisms that led to the complete reclamation of a former wetland known as Orizzonte Veggiani. About the latter, archaeobotanical analysis of seeds, fruits, and charcoal starts to help us understand its land use/land cover.