Nascita, vita e morte di una città medievale: il progetto ‘Archeologia a Cervia’

In recent decades, the topic of abandoned cities after the end of the Roman period has profoundly influenced archaeological research. Alongside this, another theme soon emerged: that of new-town, urban centres founded during the Middle Ages, or, similarly, secondary centres that, over time, managed to develop into actual cities. This paper contributes to this debate, summarizing the results of investigations conducted in Cervia (RA) and its surrounding area by the University of Bologna as part of the “Archeologia a Cervia” project, launched in 2019. These investigations have not only shed new light on the history of cities during the Middle Ages but also highlighted a unique aspect of this particular case study: its deep connection with salt production, a resource that ensured the prosperity of this centre and its territory throughout history.