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Modern Description: Ripa Della Scala is a site set on a high plateau close to Raia San Basile. It overlooks the Fiumara di Muro and much of the Platano Valley. The site – although not well known today – has been recognised since the late 19th century when Lacava published details about its existence. The wall line is visible in several sections and the placement of observer points follows De Gennaro’s reconstruction of the circuit. Ripa Della Scala is intervisible with a number of sites in the Platano valley but its strongest relationship ‐ both topographically and visually ‐ is with Raia San Basile. A network of smaller defensive fortified centres that could control access in and out of the Platano Valley surrounds Rippa Della Scala and Raia San Basile. Guardiola, Toppo Castelluccio, Monte Nuovo and Monte Giano all have low intervisibility amongst themselves but together form a strong visual control network focused on Raia San Basile and Rippa Della Scala. Serra di Fagato also provides a vital link in this defensive control network, which would have observed (and possibly regulated) movement along the southern route into the valley from Buccino (ancient Volcei). Raia San Basile is not intervisibile with Serra di Fagato but information about movement along this route could have easily been relayed to Raia San Basile from neighbouring Ripa Della Scala. I would argue that Ripa Della Scala along with Colle Torrana and the Valle degli Orti made up a vital part of the collective settlement referred to as ‘Raia San Basile’.

Info: Myers Lucania

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

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