Since the 1980s, the Department of Archaeology of the University of Urbino has conducted a series of topographic and stratigraphic investigations in the northern part of the Marche region, which proved to be crucial in assessing the social conditions of settlement patterns in that particular area of the Adriatic, not without a comparative approach with the rest of the Empire, at a very critical stage, that is amidst the crisis of the Western Roman Empire. As research progressed, significant data emerged in connection with the development (or the abandonment) of urban centres of ancient foundation, alongside the parallel implosion of the rural management system, once part of a solid network of villas and farms. Furthermore, it appeared that while some coastal cities managed to overcome the crisis, other cities faced major challenges in terms of recovery. As a matter of fact, the 5th century marked a turning point in history, a period in which several transformation processes began to take place in both urban and extra-urban areas. With respect to city of Pisaurum, some interesting evidences were brought to light in the north-eastern part of the Roman colony, where, in the 5th century, the early-Christian Basilica was erected. During roughly the same period, not far from the church, a previously abandoned domus was converted into a new residential building, possibly related to the city’s élite, documenting a resumption of building activities after a long interval of time. As we still know very little about the edifice, in this delicate phase of transition, it seems rather clear that it occupied a key position in the city, as close as it was to the seat of the religious power. Although further work is certainly needed to complete our picture, the structure, which is an illuminating example of adaptive reuse in the Romania between the 5th and the 6th centuries, might eventually help us enhance our understanding of the city’s urban dynamics in that specific timeframe.
CRISIS OR REBIRTH? NORTHERN MARCHE - AND THE CITY OF PESARO – IN THE 5TH CENTURY AD
Daniele Sacco
2023
Abstract
Since the 1980s, the Department of Archaeology of the University of Urbino has conducted a series of topographic and stratigraphic investigations in the northern part of the Marche region, which proved to be crucial in assessing the social conditions of settlement patterns in that particular area of the Adriatic, not without a comparative approach with the rest of the Empire, at a very critical stage, that is amidst the crisis of the Western Roman Empire. As research progressed, significant data emerged in connection with the development (or the abandonment) of urban centres of ancient foundation, alongside the parallel implosion of the rural management system, once part of a solid network of villas and farms. Furthermore, it appeared that while some coastal cities managed to overcome the crisis, other cities faced major challenges in terms of recovery. As a matter of fact, the 5th century marked a turning point in history, a period in which several transformation processes began to take place in both urban and extra-urban areas. With respect to city of Pisaurum, some interesting evidences were brought to light in the north-eastern part of the Roman colony, where, in the 5th century, the early-Christian Basilica was erected. During roughly the same period, not far from the church, a previously abandoned domus was converted into a new residential building, possibly related to the city’s élite, documenting a resumption of building activities after a long interval of time. As we still know very little about the edifice, in this delicate phase of transition, it seems rather clear that it occupied a key position in the city, as close as it was to the seat of the religious power. Although further work is certainly needed to complete our picture, the structure, which is an illuminating example of adaptive reuse in the Romania between the 5th and the 6th centuries, might eventually help us enhance our understanding of the city’s urban dynamics in that specific timeframe.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
