ABSTRACT
The ongoing archaeological project on the Roman, late antique, and early medieval site of Vignale (Tuscany) revealed an unpredictable continuity of life of a human settlement inside the surrounding territory. Such a continuity seems to be connected to three elements: the continuity of functioning of the ancient via Aurelia/Aemilia Scauri, which was in use well beyond the end of Antiquity; the status of “public utility place” granted to our site after its functioning as a road station; and the availability of some large and solid buildings, well distributed into a pleasant place, which were ready to be reused for different purposes. Over time, the settlement of Vignale changed its physical shape and function but preserved its role as the central place in the surrounding territory, acting as a local “terminal” capable of connecting that portion of local space to many different socio-economic and administrative systems.
