Lo scavo della cattedrale di Benevento. Un contributo alla comprensione dei processi insediativi tra la deduzione della colonia latina (268 a.C.) e l’età tardo antica

The large number of archaeological excavations carried out in the past decades have increased the data concerning Benevenum, making it necessary to study the different archaeological evidence methodically. The purpose of this study is to give new contributions to the knowledge of the settlement evolution, which developed in Beneventum in the roman age, thanks to information given by the copious stratigraphy found in the Cathedral area. The study of the ceramic finds provides us with a punctual chronology of the occupation in this area of the historical centre ofthe town, showing the centrality that this place had in roman and medieval times. The Republican phase has given a huge amount of pottery, discovered into wells and ditches, dating between the IlIrd and the 1st BC, and decisive to outline the function of different archaeological evidences. The same area has been concerned in great transformations during the imperial period: new buildings was constructed at the end of the 1st century BC, I~sting alm'ost to the end of the imperial age. Analysis of finds has reveald essential also to the comprehension of transformations happened in late roman age, when the Early Christian church was built, and in the surrounding area, where previously were the tabernae, a small number of children graves was placed. Therefore this study may offer new elements to get ready the topography of Beneventum and to discuss the settlement evolution of the latin colony, comparing the new knowledge to what we already knew about latin colonies. [edited by Author]