THE RELATION BETWEEN FLUVIAL GEOMORPHIC FRAME AND ROMAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES DISTRIBUTION IN THE TIMIȘ VALLEY BETWEEN CARANSEBEȘ AND LUGOJ

The main advantage of using interdisciplinary research methods is that new approaches and insights regarding the interractions between past communities and landforms may be performed. The main aim of this paper is to assess by using high quality archaeological record data and high resolution LIDAR support the connection between Roman archaeological sites and fluvial geomorphic frame. The study area is represented by Timiș Valley between Caransebeș and Lugoj, in the Southwest of Romania, part of the former Roman province of Moesia Superior. Thus, the paper is divided into two main sections. The first one is represented by the mapping of the fluvial landforms. High resolution LIDAR support, aerial photography and topographical maps were used in geomorphic mapping. This first step focused on fluvial landforms (valley margin, terraces, meadows, alluvial fans, transition areas etc.). Secondly, a total number of 37 Roman archaeological sites were mapped and overlapped on the fluvial landforms. Proximity and spatial analysis operations were performed. We believe that the results highlights an unexpectedly significant connection between the Roman sites and the fluvial geomorphic frame. These results have also strenghtened our innitial presumptions regarding the importance of relief in Antiquity in the Southwest of Romania.