The volume Landscape 3: una sintesi di elementi diacronici. Uomo e ambiente nel mondo antico un equilibrio possibile? , edited by F. Carbotti, D. Gangale Risoleo, E. Iacopini, F. Pizzimenti, and I. Raimondo, published in 2023 by Archaeopress as part of the Cardini di Groma monograph series, represents the third contribution collecting the proceedings of the conference Landscape 3: una sintesi di elementi diacronici , hosted by the University of Bologna on May 5–6, 2022.

The volume presents papers addressing the future of eco-sustainable archaeological research, offering significant research insights proposed by young scholars. Some of these contributions introduce innovative approaches in the fields of ancient topography and urban analysis related to archaeology.

This proceedings also explore various aspects and themes concerning the challenges, solutions, and discoveries related to ancient landscapes, their evolution, and the interactions between humans and their environment. The conference proceedings were structured into four sections ( Urbanism , Communication routes , Methodological comparison and “contamination” , and Resource management and territorial exploitation ), which have been maintained in the volume. Each section is introduced by a keynote paper that provides a framework for the subsequent essays.

The first section presents a wide range of original studies covering geographically diverse areas between Central and Southern Italy and spanning different historical periods. These studies contribute to the understanding of urban and territorial contexts that are often underexplored or poorly documented.

The second section, despite containing only three contributions, offers clear and insightful studies on communication routes—both terrestrial and otherwise—along with reflections on their usage and the economic dynamics they generated.

The third section features a diverse array of studies focusing on research methodologies, particularly the use of crossing methods and their application in territorial archaeological investigations. This section presents various non-invasive survey methods employed in archaeological research.

The fourth and final section includes thought-provoking contributions, similar to those in the first section, that address different historical, cultural, and geographical contexts concerning resource management and territorial exploitation.

Additionally, the volume includes the presentation of several posters, categorized according to the same thematic sections. These posters offer space to showcase recent studies and newly launched projects.

This volume provides an opportunity to engage with high-level scientific contributions, including the posters, which introduce both new and well-established research methodologies in different topographical and archaeological domains.

The papers included in this edition represent the preliminary outcomes of young scholars’ research, addressing a specialized audience with a sophisticated yet accessible scientific language, even when dealing with technical subjects such as geophysics.

The volume offers in-depth analyses of each topic examined, carefully assessing both the strengths and weaknesses of the research methodologies employed. As a result, it contributes to advancing the state of the art in various fields covered by the contributions.

The availability of the proceedings in Open Access , following the Access Archaeology policy of the publisher, is a highly significant factor, allowing unrestricted access to the publication. Nevertheless, Archaeopress also offers the option to purchase a print edition of the volume (352 pages, color illustrations, published in 2023) for £55.00.

In conclusion, this third volume of the Landscape conference proceedings provides a broad and coherent perspective on the evolution of landscapes over time and their interactions with the communities that inhabited them. The sequence of sections appears homogeneous, transitioning from a predominantly topographical focus in Sections I and II to a broader perspective that includes non-invasive investigation technologies. Perhaps shifting Section III to the end and bringing Section IV forward would have created a more effective sequence.

Despite this minor observation, the volume holds significant scientific value and contributes to the advancement of studies in various disciplines related to ancient topography.

Overall, all authors have presented contributions consistent with their respective paper titles. Regarding the visual materials, the high resolution of images—particularly maps and plans—is commendable, as is the inclusion of color images. Additionally, the careful selection of illustrations ensures that they do not overburden the text but instead enhance readability.

Finally, it is worth noting that the individual papers serve as starting points for further research, offering not only comprehensive overviews but also specific and valuable avenues for discussion and deeper analysis.

This volume provides an opportunity to appreciate the study of ancient topography “with the aim of addressing the subject through the comparison of different approaches and proposing reflections of a methodological nature” (Gangale Risoleo and Raimondo 2023, 10).

Reference

Gangale Risoleo Davide and Raimondo Ippolita. 2023. “Introduzione”. In Landscape 3: una sintesi di elementi diacronici. Uomo e ambiente nel mondo antico un equilibrio possibile?, edited by F. Carbotti, D. Gangale Risoleo, E. Iacopini, F. Pizzimenti and Ippolita Raimondo. Archaeopress