Tratturo e città. Il caso di Peltuinum

The paper deals with the results of a multi-year investigation on the archaeological site of Peltuinum (central Apennines, near L’Aquila - Abruzzo), intending to contribute to the debates on the chronological origin of long-range transhumance and on its possible continuity through the centuries from the Late Roman Age to the 15th century, when it was established the Aragonese “Dogana della Mena delle pecore” to regulate flocks’ circulation between internal Sabina and Tavoliere delle Puglie. Actually we have no remains of previous dominations’ laws on transhumance, but the lex agraria of 111 BC, which is the most ancient legislation on the argument. Another topic which is dealt with is the use of urban roads or external ring roads in case of crossing between sheep-track and city. This is another question which has to be tackled by individual cases, because every town has its own history. Besides Peltuinum, other examples are shown. Focusing Peltuinum case study, the paper shows that the determining factor for the choice of the site where the Roman city had to be founded was the ease of water supply, due to an aquifer coming out right in the central area of a plateau emerging in the Navelli plane. The excavation data suggest that the point of outcrop of water-ground offered the reason for flocks rest yet in protohistoric age. Later the main temple of the Roman city was located there, in the way the back wall of the cell, with the pedestal of the God’s statue, could be tangent to the pool of water, reflecting the sacral continuity of the area. Various elements underline the importance that the pastoral economy, and the sheep-track with it, had for the Roman town: the relation between urban surface and builded areas which let propose the presence of places for sheep rest within the citywalls, the finding of a boundary stone in the town central place with a dedication to Silvanus, the paving of the main road by glarea. The city / sheep-track relationship is well established; so, despite the terrible earthquake which stroke Peltuinum in the 5th century and obliged the people to move from the city definitely, the sheep-track continued crossing the plateau by the same path. The fact can be assumed by 6th century ceramics found on surveying the plateau, the alteration of the West gate, the 7th century dating of a small monastery whose toponym is linked to sheep tax and 8th century documents in the Chronicon Volturnense. From now on, toponymy helps to connect to the documents of the Reintegra dei Tratturi from 16th century onwards. The interruption of transhumance in the last century has led to a progressive occupation of the sheep-track for agricultural purposes, and this continues today, despite the laws and various initiatives attempting to protect and restore this precious cultural heritage.