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Modern Description: Civita di Tricarico is one of the major pre‐ Roman centres of Lucania. It has a triple fortification wall system ‐ modified over time to two ‐ public buildings and even a small temple. It is one of the few major Lucanian centres which have seemed to appear ex‐nuovo without any prior settlement history. Its isodomic walling is different in character to Serra di Vaglio or Pietragalla for example and no ‘markers marks’ are to be found on the blocks. It seems strongly connected visually to the entire ‘Monte Croccia’ visibility network with over 10 surrounding sites intervisible with it. Conversely though it has almost no visual control over surrounding terrestrial communication and trade routes, including the important Basento valley route which winds for over 50 kilometres through this mountainous region towards Serra di Vaglio and the Platano Valley. In fact despite Civita di Tricarico intervisibility ranking being extremely high, it ‐ paradoxically ‐ has a very low ‘visual prominence’ in the surrounding landscape, an important concept that will be discussed further in the ‘Network catalogue’. In other words other sites can see it, but not general ‘passing trade’. Tricarico seems closely linked to another fortified settlement on the north side of the Basento valley ‐ Serra del Cedro. Serra del Cedro is only 9 kilometres away and could easily pass on information about approaching activity in the middle and lower Basento valley to the east of Tricarico of which it has commanding views. Albano di Lucania would have been able to perform a similar function for the western section of the Basento valley and is even closer to Tricarico at 6km. Directly across the Basento valley the important fortified centre of Monte Croccia is also in visual contact with Tricarico.
Wikidata ID: Q2974903

Info: Myers Lucania

Brett Andrew Myers, Visual Connectivity and Control in Ancient Lucania, MPhil thesis 2018, Univ. of Sydney

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