Systematic surveys and contextual analysis in the Sibaritide area (Northern Calabria)

The Sibaritide region, located in the north-western part of Calabria, is renowned for its rich archaeological density, which attests to the presence of ancient civilizations and significant settlements, highlighting their historical and cultural importance in antiquity and the richness of their archaeological heritage. This research proposes an in-depth study of the settlement dynamics of the Sibaritide through surface surveys and contextual analysis of archaeological presences. It focused on the area around Cerchiara di Calabria (CS), using a systematic-random sampling methodology of 10%. The objective was to identify and map archaeological evidence, comparing settlement dynamics over time and considering the surrounding environment. For data analysis, the QGIS software was used, while LiDAR data was employed to examine natural morphologies and terracing traces related to the identified areas. Overall, the study identified and mapped 43 archaeological dispersion areas, spanning from the protohistoric period to the post-classical era. These results can be considered satisfactory as they provide important information on settlement dynamics and human presence in the studied region. In summary, the study utilizes a combination of research methodologies and analytical tools to obtain significant information on the population and occupation of the territory in a part of the Sibaritide, contributing to the understanding of the history and archaeology of the region.