Aquileia and its Territory in the Fourth Century AD

In spite of the main opinion, new archaeological and epigrahical evidences show that during the fourth century Aquileia didn’t decline. Its political and economic importance grew in consequence of the administrative reform carried out by Diocletian and of its importance in the struggles between the rulers as well as of its location on the route of invasions. Actually the story of Aquileia in Late Antiquity is above all a story of great urban transformation: a new renovated forum, city walls, circus, new baths, market places and monumental storehouses and christian church buildings mark the new urban look of late antique Aquileia. Imported late roman wares (amphoras, ceramics an so on) from Easterm Mediterranean and from Africa witness the importance of the adriatic harbour. On the territory there is evidence of continuity in the distribution of rural settlements, even if the archaeological researches show structural transformations of the former villas and there are scanty evidences of late antique factories on the territory. So that the case of Carlino remains at the moment almost isolated.