SKOTOUSSA IN ETÀ ROMANA E TARDO ANTICA: RIFLESSIONI ARCHEOLOGICHE E TEORICHE SU UNA TRANSIT AREA

Skotoussa during the roman and late antique period: archaeological and theoretical reflections on a transit area · Skotoussa, during the roman and late antique age, represents an interest case of a transitional space that defies conventional categorizations of urban or rural environments. Situ ated on the periphery of major road networks and lacking residential continuity, this site embodies the complexity of marginal spaces characterized by fragmentation, memory, and transformation. Defined as an interstitial area where transit is the primary structuring element, Skotoussa reflects the tensions between its functional past and fragmented present, challenging the dichotomy be tween city and countryside. This contribution employs an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on theories from geography, philosophy, and urban studies – such as Edward Soja’s Thirdspace and Michel Foucault’s Heterotopia. These frameworks enable an understanding of Skotoussa not only as an archaeological site but as a liminal space that embodies the socio-spatial dynamics of the Ro man world. Transit areas like Skotoussa serve as custodians of historical memory, layering identi ties and functions over time without consolidating into a unified form. The analysis highlights the site’s role as a secondary node, marked by ruins, secondary routes, and dispersed archaeological materials, which together underscore its function as a transit zone. Such spaces subvert traditional spatial hierarchies and reflect the interplay between mobility, connection, and fragmentation. By interpreting Skotoussa through this lens, the study aims to provide a new framework for under standing transit areas within the socio-economic networks of the Roman world and to explore the broader significance of liminal landscapes in ancient contexts.