Structures of the rural settlement of the Venetian area and Emilia Romagna between the 4^th and 9^th centuries

The study is devoted to the structures of coastal and rural populations of the large territory of the Venetian area and Emilia Romagna between the 4^th and the 8^th/9^th centuries. The first reviewed data derive from research projects based on surveys: the Late Roman settlement pattern, despite evidence for a general decline of the sites, shows a reorganization of land holdings with different outcomes in different territories. A comparison with the data from excavations provides evidence for simple structures built over the villas or wooden huts with no ties to the previous structures of the Roman period. The early Middle Ages are marked by a trend towards centralization (villages, curtes central places, castles, etc..) together with a scattered settlement which was highly mobile and difficult to document, which in some areas continues to be based on previous fundia. The most economically vibrant structures are located along the Adriatic coast. A series of Late Antique settlements comprises functions related to roads, navigation, and handicraft production. In some cases urban sites were created ex novo.