IL PAESAGGIO CON GLI OCCHI DEGLI AGRIMENSORI

Abstract

The paper aims at investigating some aspects of the very complex subject of the existence, among the peoples of ancient Italy,
of forms of collective exploitation of the land, mainly for grazing, by more or less large parental groups, the gentes. In this perspective,
the first part of the work examines the historical reliability of the tradition regarding the Romulus’ bina iugeri and their
relationship with the ager compascuus, while in the second part – above all through the testimony of Roman land surveyors – an
attempt is made to verify the existence of common lands in those societies characterised by a strong presence of gentiles, as in the
case of Etruria.

Key words: bina iugera, ager compascuus, communalia, gentes