Geology and ruin as settlement generators in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

Abstract

When choosing a site for their colonial towns the Greeks favoured places that resembled the geological context of their native country, because they could adapt their familiar water management and town-planning practices to the suit these conditions. This paper proposes that when the Romans annexed these settlements, they often built on the ruins of the earlier Greek settlements and that the same can be observed in Greek and Roman settlements in what is today Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. When Roman authority crumbled (476AD) and the region was invaded by Barbarians, only the more massive Roman monuments withstood ruination and subsequent Provençal architecture was designed to resist attack. This paper further investigates how some towns and structures were built on the ruins of Roman ramparts and how in others the geology was used to determine the position of settlement. It contributes to the existing body of knowledge of Roman ruins in Provence by suggesting geology and ruin as settlement generatorsToe die Grieke terreine vir hul koloniale dorpe oorweeg het, het hulle voorkeur gegee aan plekke wat met die geologiese konteks van hul moederland ooreengestem het, omdat hulle die bekende beginsels van dorpsbeplanning en waterbestuur by hierdie toestande kon aanpas. Hierdie artikel stel voor dat toe die Romeine hierdie nedersettings beset het, hulle gereeld op die ruïnes van vroeëre Griekse nedersettings gebou het en dat dit ook by die Griekse en Romeinse nedersettings in wat vandag Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is, waargeneem kan word. Toe Romeinse gesag verkrummel het (476 nC) en die area deur Barbare ingeval is, het slegs die meer massiewe Romeinse monumente die vernietiging weerstaan en Provensale argitektuur is ontwerp om aanvalle af te weer. Die artikel ondersoek verder hoe sommige dorpe en strukture op die ruïnes van Romeinse vestings gebou is en hoe ander se posisie deur die geologie bepaal is. Dit dra by tot die bestaande liggaam van kennis oor Romeinse ruïnes in Provence deur geologie en ruïne as nedersettingsgenereerders voor te stel.