I Romani in Versilia. Dinamiche di popolamento e organizzazione del territorio

This study aims to reconstruct the dynamics of population that characterized and conditioned the Versilia’s land, after the arrival of Romans, through a comprehensive analysis of archaeological remains, about to the period from the II century B.C. to the IV century A.D. When the Romans defeated the Liguri Apuani (180 B.C.), they had full control of the territory, which organized in agricultural function through centuriation and land reclamation, and the construction of roads and waterways, useful for trade. Mansiones, small and medium-sized farms arose within the mesh of centuriation, usually along the boundaries of the lots assigned to settlers or near crossroads. Maybe there were also villas with luxurious equipment ornamental and thermae. The coastline, with its rural settlements and its necropolis, continued to be inhabited until late antiquity, even if since the end of II century A.D. began a period of crisis with the collapse of structures, temporary reuses and alluvial phenomena.