VIABILITÀ MINORE E VIABILITÀ RURALE NEL TERRITORIO A NORD OVEST DI ROMA, TRA LE VIE AURELIA, CORNELIA E CLODIA

An overall analysis of the systematic topographical research in the area north west of Rome allows us to outline a detailed picture of the road system layouts, spanning from routes connecting large archaic centers and smaller towns to capillary road networks aimed to agricultural farming. A draft connection pattern started in protohistoric times; however, a structured road network emerged only in the Orientalizing age, becoming well defined in the Archaic age and expanding largely, systematically connecting farms and then to villas, from the middle republican age to the middle imperial age. At least from the 2nd century BCE acquires the particularity that characterizes it: all road sections, even the most remote ones, are paved. This characteristic is conditioned by the ease of finding the raw material in the area, but also poses some questions on the organization of the agricultural use of the area and on the legal and administrative implications.