COMPARING RE-SURVEYS IN ISERNIA AND VENOSA (MOLISE AND BASILICATA, ITALY)

Abstract

This paper addresses the value of re-surveys in two different regions with different cultural and landscape

formation histories: the Upper Volturno basin in Molise (the hinterland of the colony of Aesernia, modern

Isernia), and the Melfese area in Basilicata (the hinterland of the colony of Venusia, modern Venosa). In these

areas, we compare legacy datasets with newly acquired survey data in the same areas, and compare the

results by means of statistics (Chi-square) and visual exploration (cartographical and GIS-based analysis).

The statistical comparisons of these different surveys show that site numbers may change significantly. This

paper explores the reasons for these dynamics in the archaeological surface record by focussing especially on

landscape changes.