Metodologie di ricognizione archeologica e analisi dei materiali nella media valle del Nevola (Ancona)

This research, conducted by the University of Bologna, focuses on the Nevola Valley and the municipality of Corinaldo (Ancona). The primary objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated, non-invasive, and diachronic approach to territorial exploration. The study area is situated at the center of the Cesano-Nevola-Misa river system, a district that has consistently yielded significant archaeological data, most notably the recent discoveries at the site of Contrada Nevola. The geographical investigation covers a specific sector of the Nevola Valley, bounded by the Contrada Nevola site, the SP 12 road, and the municipal borders of Ostra Vetere, Ostra, and Trecastelli. The methodology integrates diverse sources: geomorphological and geological analyses used to identify stable areas suitable for ancient settlements or road networks; historical cartography (Catasto Gregoriano); and historical aerial photography (1943 and 1955). These records reveal a rural landscape significantly different from the current one, featuring a meandering river course and more fragmented agricultural plots. A central component of this work is the systematic surface survey conducted in October 2025. The collected data were processed by classifying fragments—including ceramics, lithics, and building materials—by typology, dating, and class. The diachronic analysis reconstructs the territory's occupation from Prehistory to the Middle Ages. The Roman era represents the most documented phase, following the reorganization of the ager Gallicus, urban development, and traces of centuriation. The final section is dedicated to the recent rediscovery of the Passo del Turco bridge. The study provides an analytical description of its structural elements and a technical comparison with contemporary buildings in nearby Suasa and Ostra, as well as Roman bridges along the Via Flaminia.