Most historians associate the site's foundation with the building of the ancient Roman road, the via Flaminia, in 220-219 BC. When the Via Flaminia was built, its western branch proceeded north from Narni (ancient Narnia), through the Vicus, to Bevagna (ancient Mevania). This branch of the road courses through a gently rolling upland plain at the foot of the Martani mountain range, an area that had been heavily populated since the middle of the Bronze Age. The eastern branch proceeded from Narni to Terni, north to Spoleto, then past Trevi and finally to Foligno, where it merged with the western branch.
The site is mentioned by name in several inscriptions, including three now found in the church of S. Maria in Pantano and its bell tower. A fourth was discovered during agricultural work in the fields by the church of S. Maria in Pantano and is now located in the small museum in the cloister of S. Maria della Pace in Massa Martana[1] The site also appears in the ancient Roman itineraries found on the Vicarello cups, and (possibly) in the Tabula Peutingeriana. Another ancient inscription, embedded in the gate of Massa Martana, but discovered nearby, mentions work done on a road by the Roman emperor Hadrian. It is generally assumed that this refers to the Via Flaminia.[1]
Unlike other of the towns and cities on the two branches of the old Roman road, virtually nothing of the vicus lasted to the modern period. Apart from the already noted inscriptions, the only evidence of Roman presence on the site was the building of the church of S. Maria in Pantano, which appears to have been built into the ruins of a Roman-period structure. Other nearby ruins include the viaducts at S. Giovanni de Butris, Ponte Fonnaia and Bastardo, and significant substructures near the train station at Massa Martana Scalo.[2]
Excavation now suggests that the site was abandoned in antiquity and subsequently despoiled, with stone material being used at nearby sites, such as the medieval church of San Faustino, in the nearby Villa San Faustino frazione of Massa Martana.[3]
Excavationedit
Excavation at the site has been carried out since 2008 by Dr. John D. Muccigrosso of Drew University.[4] The work is currently being carried out as a field school.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abBruschetti, Paolo (1994). "Iscrizioni inedite dal Vicus Martis Tudertium sull'antica via Flaminia". Mélanges de l'École française de Rome Antiquité. 106 (1): 15–27. doi:10.3406/mefr.1994.1837.
^Bruschetti, Paolo (1994). Strade romane: percorsi e infrastrutture. Bologna: "L'Erma" di Bretschneider. pp. 167–172.
^Muccigrosso, John; Harvey, Sarah; Lorenzetti, Elena; Rhodes, Jill; Spiganti, Stefano (September 2016). "The Apsidal Building of the Vicus Martis Tudertium (PG)" (PDF). The Journal of Fasti Online. 366: 1–12. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^"S. Maria in Pantano". FASTI Online. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
^Muccigrosso, John. "The Vicus Martis Tudertium Field School". Retrieved 15 February 2015.
vicus, martis, tudertium, archaeological, site, umbria, central, italy, located, kilometres, south, massa, martana, small, comune, province, perugia, shown, within, umbrialocationperugia, regionumbriacoordinates42, 75139, 53194, 75139, 53194typesettlementhisto. The Vicus Martis Tudertium is an archaeological site in Umbria central Italy It is located c 2 kilometres 1 2 mi south of Massa Martana a small comune in the province of Perugia Vicus Martis TudertiumShown within UmbriaLocationPerugia PG RegionUmbriaCoordinates42 45 5 N 12 31 55 E 42 75139 N 12 53194 E 42 75139 12 53194TypeSettlementHistoryCulturesRomanSite notesArchaeologistsJohn MuccigrossoConditionruinedPublic accessyes Contents 1 Origins and history 2 Excavation 3 References 4 External linksOrigins and history editMost historians associate the site s foundation with the building of the ancient Roman road the via Flaminia in 220 219 BC When the Via Flaminia was built its western branch proceeded north from Narni ancient Narnia through the Vicus to Bevagna ancient Mevania This branch of the road courses through a gently rolling upland plain at the foot of the Martani mountain range an area that had been heavily populated since the middle of the Bronze Age The eastern branch proceeded from Narni to Terni north to Spoleto then past Trevi and finally to Foligno where it merged with the western branch The site is mentioned by name in several inscriptions including three now found in the church of S Maria in Pantano and its bell tower A fourth was discovered during agricultural work in the fields by the church of S Maria in Pantano and is now located in the small museum in the cloister of S Maria della Pace in Massa Martana 1 The site also appears in the ancient Roman itineraries found on the Vicarello cups and possibly in the Tabula Peutingeriana Another ancient inscription embedded in the gate of Massa Martana but discovered nearby mentions work done on a road by the Roman emperor Hadrian It is generally assumed that this refers to the Via Flaminia 1 Unlike other of the towns and cities on the two branches of the old Roman road virtually nothing of the vicus lasted to the modern period Apart from the already noted inscriptions the only evidence of Roman presence on the site was the building of the church of S Maria in Pantano which appears to have been built into the ruins of a Roman period structure Other nearby ruins include the viaducts at S Giovanni de Butris Ponte Fonnaia and Bastardo and significant substructures near the train station at Massa Martana Scalo 2 Excavation now suggests that the site was abandoned in antiquity and subsequently despoiled with stone material being used at nearby sites such as the medieval church of San Faustino in the nearby Villa San Faustino frazione of Massa Martana 3 Excavation editExcavation at the site has been carried out since 2008 by Dr John D Muccigrosso of Drew University 4 The work is currently being carried out as a field school 5 References edit a b Bruschetti Paolo 1994 Iscrizioni inedite dal Vicus Martis Tudertium sull antica via Flaminia Melanges de l Ecole francaise de Rome Antiquite 106 1 15 27 doi 10 3406 mefr 1994 1837 Bruschetti Paolo 1994 Strade romane percorsi e infrastrutture Bologna L Erma di Bretschneider pp 167 172 Muccigrosso John Harvey Sarah Lorenzetti Elena Rhodes Jill Spiganti Stefano September 2016 The Apsidal Building of the Vicus Martis Tudertium PG PDF The Journal of Fasti Online 366 1 12 Retrieved 19 October 2021 S Maria in Pantano FASTI Online Retrieved 15 February 2015 Muccigrosso John The Vicus Martis Tudertium Field School Retrieved 15 February 2015 External links editBill Thayer s page on Massa Martana 42 45 5 N 12 31 55 E 42 75139 N 12 53194 E 42 75139 12 53194 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vicus Martis Tudertium amp oldid 1137267199, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
