An overview of rural settlement in four river basins in the province of Grosseto on the coast of Tuscany (200 B.C.–A.D. 600)

Human-derived landscape changes on the northern Etruria coast (western Italy) between Roman times and the late Middle Ages

“…The intensity of soil use was tentatively determined by simply summing the number of settlements detected by archaeological field surveys in the last 30 years (Figure 3, column ‘Archaeological sites’) between the south-western slopes of the Metalliferous Hills and the alluvial plains of River Cornia (Botarelli, 2004; Cambi et al, 1994; Casini, 2004; De Tommaso, 1998; Dallai, 2003b; Fedeli, 1983), River Pecora (Cambi et al, 1994), River Bruna and River Ombrone (Cambi et al, 1994; Marasco, 2013; Vaccaro, 2008), amounting to a total area of about 1660 km 2 (Figure 1).…”

“…In the 3rd century bc , the Romans started to extend their control to northern Etruria (Harris, 1971); in the territory of Populonia, the activity of metal-working reached its zenith (Dallai, 2000), after which, during the Civil Wars, it came to a definitive halt in the 1st century bc (Cambi and Acconcia, 2011). With the decline of Populonia, the network of settlements was re-organised and, between the 1st century bc and 1st century ad , archaeological evidence shows the maximum development of rural settlements in the valleys from Cecina to the River Ombrone (Cambi and Botarelli, 2004; Citter, 1996; Dallai, 2003b; Vaccaro, 2008). In the following century, however, the re-organisation of the Roman economy resulted in a new distribution of industrial activity which led to a sharp decrease in settlement population size (Citter, 1996; Dallai, 2003b; Vaccaro, 2008).…”

“…With the decline of Populonia, the network of settlements was re-organised and, between the 1st century bc and 1st century ad , archaeological evidence shows the maximum development of rural settlements in the valleys from Cecina to the River Ombrone (Cambi and Botarelli, 2004; Citter, 1996; Dallai, 2003b; Vaccaro, 2008). In the following century, however, the re-organisation of the Roman economy resulted in a new distribution of industrial activity which led to a sharp decrease in settlement population size (Citter, 1996; Dallai, 2003b; Vaccaro, 2008). Between the end of the 1st and the whole of the 3rd centuries ad , Donoratico belonged to this Roman system of settlements (Bianchi, 2005).…”

“…The Late Roman Age experienced a further decline in settlements (Dallai, 2003b; Vaccaro, 2008). In this context between the 4th and mid-5th centuries ad , Alberese became a commercial port at the ancient mouth of the River Ombrone (Cygielman et al, 2013).…”

Shaping Mediterranean landscapes: The cultural impact of anthropogenic fires in Tyrrhenian southern Tuscany during the Iron and Middle Ages (800–450 BC / AD 650–1300)

“…With the spread of Etruscan tribes in the 9th and 8th centuries BC, the coastline became the main metal-working area of central Italy (usually known as Etruria) with the establishment of towns involved in the trade of artefacts (Acconcia and Milletti, 2009; Chiarantini et al, 2009). In the 3rd century BC, Roman political expansion started to exercise its control on Etruria (Harris, 1971) and between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD the region reached the peak of its settlement and economic development during the Classical Age (Cambi and Botarelli, 2004; Citter, 1996; Dallai, 2003a; Vaccaro, 2008). Following the collapse of the Roman Empire at the end of the 5th century AD, few settlements continued to exist in the coastal alluvial plains, while new sites were founded thanks to the spontaneous relocation of small units of population on higher ground (Dallai, 2003b).…”