Wall it up: Iron Age Fortifications in Latium Vetus and Central Apennines, a comparison

Monti, Dario;Scarsella, Elena
(2025) Archaeology of Conflicts — Location: Hradec Králové University (23.September.2025)

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This paper investigates the role of fortifications in shaping and expressing two different models of settlement and social organisation in ancient central Italy, from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period, with a particular focus on the dynamics of conflict. Centred on defensive walls, it compares the fortified centres of ancient Latium with those of the Italic communities in the mountainous hinterland of the central Apennines. These two regions offer a compelling contrast: Latin settlements developed in an area that will eventually develop in full urbanisation, whereas Apennine communities followed more dispersed and decentralised patterns. The study examines the morphology, construction techniques—including the so-called “polygonal” masonry—and spatial distribution of these fortifications, analysing their relationships with other sites and broader territorial dynamics. Special emphasis is placed on the debated chronology and function of polygonal walls, with the aim of reassessing the evidence and proposing a new synthesis. The comparative approach not only clarifies the structural and strategic rationale behind different fortification models, but also reveals how these structures reflect varying conceptions of warfare and defence. Latin and Italic communities often found themselves in military confrontations —most notably during the Samnite Wars and the Social War. By exploring the material traces of conflict, this paper addresses the intersection between military architecture, modes of warfare, social organisation, and regional identity in pre-Roman Italy.
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Monti, D., & Scarsella, E. (2025). Wall it up: Iron Age Fortifications in Latium Vetus and Central Apennines, a comparison. Archaeology of Conflicts, Hradec Králové University. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/266679