The Via Severiana and the Tabula Peutingeriana: valuation of landmarks precision and town expansions

Abstract

This work deals with the examination of the route of the Via Severiana, traced in the imperial period, from a historical and technical point of view. Then, results were compared with the Tabula, which we can consider one of the first synthetic representations of general viability. We have explored the development of the various sectors of the via Severiana, considering the various utility and presence on the territory, using the Tabula Peutingeriana as a benchmark. Subsequently, we have examined the precision of the positioning of the various landmarks along the via Severiana and the movement of the inhabited centers as a function of density. Modern technologies, including Geographic Information Systems and mathematical models, allow us to help the archaeologists to overlay ancient maps like the Tabula Peutingeriana onto contemporary maps, aiding in the identification of locations and understanding ancient landscapes.