Le modalità insediative nel contado riminese bassomedievale. Dati e considerazioni per uno studio archeologico

Taking as its starting point the Descriptio Romandiole (1371), the article intends to deal with the issue, both peculiar and problematic, of the late medieval rural settlement in the Rimini countryside. Problematic both because this settlement is to be considered in the context of a period of great political and military instability for the aforesaid area, and also because it is collocated in a complex and rapidly-changing administrative subdivision. The argument, so far treated only with the help of the historical sources, needs further studies, achievable only through aprecise strategy of archaeological research. It should be noted, for example, a total absence of data concerning the type of settlement called tumba, of which we have many evidences and descriptions indeeds and ancient chronicles that at the moment we must accept with reserve, in the absence of the necessary confirmations. Some archaeological interventions published, regarding castles and parish churches, are the subject of a specific examination aimed at verifying their effectiveness in relation to the chosen topic of investigation. Finally, we proceed to the identification of a methodological line to be undertaken for a desirable continuation of the studies