Análisis arqueomorfológico y dinámica territorial en el Vallés Oriental (Barcelona) de la Protohistoria s. VI-V a.C.) a la alta Edad Media (s. IX-X)

Abstract

The area of study, located in the Vallès basin, near the city of Barcelona, has undergone an important urbanization process in the last two decades. This fact restrains the retrieving of archaeological data and the development of archaeological surveys and fieldwalking. In this sense, landscape research in urban or peri-urban areas implies important methodological constraints. However, several reports from rescue excavations are available. They are a very useful source for territorial research. The particular topography of the area must also be taken into account. It is characterized by soft slopes resulting from a differentiated seasonal rainfall. Archaeomorphological analysis has been therefore reconsidered in order to adapt its methods and techniques to this particular environment. This paper presents the results of the digital archaeomorfological analysis which have been correlated with historical and archaeological data in order to allow us to characterize the historical road network and territorial organization from a long-term perspective, together with settlement evolution and landscape dynamics in Roman times. The landscape morphology research has been developed from an intensive work involving photo-interpretation and the study of old maps within a GIS environment. This has been especially important because of major landscape changes in large rural areas. The archaeological data resulting from the research over the last years has also been carefully revised in order to plan the archaeological and archaeomorfological surveys developed in several micro-regional sectors.