An integrated quantitative approach to assess the archaeological heritage in highly anthropized areas: the case study of Aesernia (southern Italy)

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Abstract
The Latin colony of Aesernia was the seat of an important road junction for communications, especially to the south with Bovianum and Beneventum, to the north with Aufidena and the Sangro Valley and to the west with Venafrum and the Liri River Valley. While some archaeological contexts of this colony are documented by very detailed studies, others still require an overall analysis and a systematic study. Particularly, there is the lack of an organic and complete reading of the known data and a concrete need to acquire new data on still unexplored areas.The present paper illustrates the results of the integrated geo-archaeological research carried out at Isernia and based on the analysis of historical sources, archaeological surveys, geologic, geomorphological and topographic investigations and geophysical prospections. All data were stored in a Geographic Information System that allowed for spatial analyses and the production of thematic maps. The purpose of the research was to help fill the many knowledge gaps in the history of Aesernia and to add new data by using a multiple system of analysis. The integrated geo-archaeological approach allowed drawing up a new archaeological map that gives an updated view of the rich archaeological heritage of Isernia.