Mapping of Roman Roads Unveils Ancient Transportation Networks

A team of researchers led by Pau de Soto from the Autonomous University of Barcelona has successfully created a high-resolution digital map of the extensive network of Roman roads known as Itiner-e. According to Archaeology Magazine, these roads, as they existed circa A.D. 150, span approximately 186,000 miles across the Roman Empire.

This mapping project is instrumental in helping archaeologists better calculate travel times across this vast network, which holds significant implications for understanding trade and military logistics during the Roman era.

The researchers utilized data from historic copies of Roman maps and analyzed over 8,000 known miliaria or Roman milestones to inform their findings. Additionally, they incorporated more recent historical maps, aerial photographs, and modern satellite imagery, piecing together evidence of the roads where no physical remnants have survived.

The report states that less than three percent of the roads studied are well-known and thoroughly mapped, indicating a substantial amount of conjectural data. Nearly 90 percent of the network falls under the category of conjectured roads, inferred from the locations of settlements and milestones without direct physical evidence.

A smaller segment consists of hypothetical roads presumed to connect ancient cities, yet lacking any archaeological verification. This comprehensive mapping not only enhances our understanding of ancient transportation systems but also sheds light on the critical role these routes played in the expansion of the Roman Empire.

Sources indicate that the study will greatly aid future archaeological efforts in exploring the implications of these ancient roads on trade and communication within the empire. For further details, you can refer to the original scholarly article published in Scientific Data.

Additionally, for insights into recent discoveries, including a submerged section of a Roman road in the Venetian lagoon, check the article titled 'A Trip to Venice.'