I walk an ancient road: A straightforward methodology for analyzing intra- and inter-regional connectivity systems along Roman Frontier Zones (c. 1st—5th century AD)

Abstract

This paper presents a broadly reusable and straightforward methodology for examining ancient road networks in the hinterlands of Roman frontiers, with attention to both intra- and inter-regional connectivity. It employs a range of tools—including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Least Cost Analyses (LCA), Spatial Social Network Analysis (SSNA), and Visibility Analysis (VA)—to trace and interpret the road systems that facilitated troop movements, goods transport, and social exchange. The study exemplifies this methodology through an investigation of a frontier zone within a specific area of interest at the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Danube Limes” in Northern Noricum (modern Austria), spanning the mid-1st to the 5th century CE. By integrating archaeological data, open government datasets, and advanced digital methods, the analysis reveals a variety of pathways that may have supported military logistics and civilian travel across this strategically significant region. Selected roads identified through the analyses could be subsequently verified through ground-truthing.The paper also emphasizes the need for cautious interpretation, acknowledging the hypothetical nature of certain pathways and the inherent limitations of tracing ancient infrastructure through the methods employed.