From Safin to Roman: Cultural Change and Hybridization in Central Adriatic Italy

Oliva Menozzi began her studies at Chieti University and completed her doctorate at Oxford in 2001. She has been Researcher and Lecturer in Classical Archaeology and Archaeology of Greek Colonization at the University G.d’Annunzio of Chieti‑Pescara (Italy) since 2002 and is now Associate Professor. She has been Director of the CAAM‑Centre of the Athenaeum for Archaeometry and Microanalysis since 2015 and of the Master STARch (Sciences and Technologies for Archaeology at risk) since 2019.

• INTRODUCTIONDefining the Central Appenines             Hellenization and Romanization: problems of interpretation and Hybridization            Aims and methodologies of the research           THE LANDChapter 1. Historical GeographyReading the ancient topography through the sources. The infrastructure of ancient communications: road-network, tratturi and ports            Chapter 2. The Region: Geology and Landscape Plates 1 – 32 THE MID-ADRIATIC APENNINES BETWEEN THE 6TH AND THE 4TH CENTURIES BCChapter 3. Ethnographic and Cultural Background between the 6th and 4th centuries BCFrom the Safin to the Sabelli    The political situation  Language and script of Archaic Abruzzo             The Sabellians between the mid 5th and the mid 4th centuries BC      Trade and external contacts     Plates 33 - 64 Chapter 4. Settlement StructureTerritorial organisation Hillforts              Villages              Sanctuaries                     Chapter 5. Funerary PracticesCemeteries      Funerary sculpture Conclusions. The mid-Adriatic Apennines in the Archaic and Classical periods  Plates 65 – 96 THE CONVENTIONAL PERIOD OF ‘ROMANIZATION’Chapter 6. The General Historical Background according to the Sources Chapter 7. Society and EconomyThe social context        Rural settlement and local production Coins and currency       Plates 97 - 128 Chapter 8. Settlement StructureTerritorrial organization               Hillforts              Sanctuaries     Villages, vici and pagi   Colonies            Municipia and praefecturae      Chapter 9. Art and ArchitecturePublic and private architecture              Terracotta votive offerings         Votive bronze statuettes            Cemeteries and funerary equipment   Sculpture and portraits                Plates 129 - 160 PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS ABBREVIATIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDICESAppendix 1. Geoarcheologia, cambiamenti climatici e paesaggi archeologici in Abruzzo: un punto della situazione – Silvano AgostiniAppendix 2. Un aggiornamento sulle strutture abitative in Abruzzo – Vincenzo d’Ercole e Oliva MenozziAppendix 3. A diachronic overview of the S. Maria Cardetola necropolis in Crecchio (CH) (seasons 2015-2020, 2022) – Luca CherstichAppendix 4. Archeologia funeraria in Abruzzo: un aggiornamento – Vincenzo d’ErcoleAppendix 5. Preliminary data from the investigations in the municipality of San Giovanni Lipioni (CH): the archaeological areas of Colle Vernone and Il Monte – Eugenio Di ValerioAppendix 6. Economia e organizzazione territoriale tra IV sec. a.C. e I d.C.: il ruolo dei ‘centri minori’ in area Centro-Adriatica e Appenninica – Maria Cristina Mancini e Oliva Menozzi

‘Overall, the book is meticulously researched and Menozzi’s synthesis of archaeological, textual, and epigraphic evidence is thorough. The arguments are presented with academic rigor. The inclusion of high-quality maps, photographs, and illustrative figures greatly enhances the accessibility and clarity of the material, making it a valuable resource for both specialists and graduate students in Roman archaeology and ancient history. The structure is well-organised, with logical progression and thematic cohesion, making the volume an exemplary model of how to synthesise complex archaeological and historical data into a coherent analytical framework.’ - Ludovico Rodolfo Runco (2025): Bryn Mawr Classical Review From Safin to Roman: cultural change and hybridization in central Adriatic Italy – Bryn Mawr Classical Review