Tra aerofotointerpretazione e indagini sul campo: linee di ricerca per la ricostruzione dell'insediamento di Nuceriola (Benevento, Italia)

The ancient site of Nuceriola, located along the Appian Way near Benevento, Italy represents an interesting case study for research into settlement patterns in the region of Samnium (modern Sannio). The site was occupied between the 4th c. BCE and the 6th c. CE and there has been no significant post-antique reuse. It is now a key focus of concentration for the Ancient Appia Landscapes Project of the University of Salerno, in particular in relation to its themes of Roman expansion in the Mid-Republican period, rural settlement types, and ancient road networks. This article presents the result of photographic interpretation based on existing and newly carried out aerial photography. These data, when combined with the results of excavation, of geophysical work and of surface survey, produce a composite picture of the organization of the settlement. This allows us to propose a tentative reconstruction that adds to what is still a relatively narrow understanding of the minor settlements of this part of Samnium.