Dinamiche insediative e sfruttamento agricolo del suburbio orientale di Roma tra età repubblicana e imperiale

FABRIZIO ALESSANDRO TERRIZZI

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22915763

Abstract

This paper examines the organization of the rural landscape in the eastern suburb of Rome, in the area between the via Collatina and the via Labicana, within the fourth mile of the Aurelian Walls, through an integrated analysis of geomorphological, hydrogeological, and archaeological data. The area, formed by fluvial-lacustrine alluvial deposits later covered by pyroclastic layers, offered favorable conditions for early and intensive agricultural exploitation. The abundance of water resources, due to a dense river network, and the proximity to major roads encouraged the development of productive farms and rural settlements from the Middle Republican period onward. Archaeological evidence reveals complex agricultural systems, including hydraulic management and land reclamation works, as well as specialized cultivation techniques. The use of porcae or lirae for horticulture, cereals, and viticulture is well documented, alongside vineyard trenches and planting pits for fruit trees. During the Imperial period, land ownership became increasingly concentrated and production intensified, closely linked to monumental suburban villas equipped with facilities for agricultural processing. Diachronic analysis highlights significant landscape transformations, including the abandonment or obliteration of cultivated areas in favor of residential complexes, necropolises, or mining activities, outlining a dynamic suburban landscape closely integrated into Rome’s economic system.

Keywords

Eastern suburb, agriculture, Rome, sulci, Imperial age

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