![]() Since Roman cadastres were always square or rectangular, the existence of cadastres requires evidence of linear features at right angles. For example, a north-east escarpment also points to the south-west. Normally, an orientation can vary through 360 ̊, but this would involve double counting as each escarpment clearly points in two directions. covering 180 ̊ (see also Vermeulen and Antrop 2001: 117–118). In order to detect distinct orientation clusters, the orientation of each escarpment was classified into eight groups between 0 ̊ and 90 ̊ from north, i.e. As escarpments prevent further erosion, and protect against flooding of valley settlements and decreasing fertility of agricultural soils, they were (and are) important linear features in the landscape, with a high economic and social value to the community in the region (see Breteler and van den Broek 1968). An escarpment is a long steep slope or cliff at the edge of a ridge, which was originally formed by erosion (Fig. To examine this hypothesis, I have focused on a phenomenon relating to the sloping, loess-covered landscape around Tongres: the escarpment. Considering this powerful Roman influence at the periphery of the Empire, a Roman cadastre may have been implemented here. The provincial capital of Tongres, the military presence at Maastricht, Roman villae, burial mounds and artefacts show a strongly Roman element (see Vanvinckenroye 1985 Panhuysen 1996 Vanderhoeven 1996). This is attested by archaeological evidence of their occupation and influence in this area from the late first century AD. The fertility of the soil made it an ideal region for the Romans to settle. Typically, the landscape around Tongres is sloping and is covered with loess soil, which although very fertile is also susceptible to erosion. However, this case study shows that through a consistent and critical analysis of archaeological remains, together with historical-geographical evidence, a reconstruction of a cadastre is possible. While cadastres from the latter region can be reconstructed on the basis of boundary stones, inscriptions and literary sources, such evidence is lacking for cadastres from the Roman Northwest so that a different approach is needed. Of course, one cannot compare a Roman cadastre from the Roman Northwest with one from Tunisia or Italy. This will be illustrated by a case study from the region around the Roman provincial city of Tongres (see also Bonnie 2009) the same region covered by Mertens (1958) fifty years ago (see above). The implication of this critique is to open up the possibility of cadastres in the north-western provinces of the Roman Empire. Above, I have evaluated and criticized the arguments on which scholars have rejected the presence of cadastres in the Roman Northwest. Therefore, as Dilke (1971: 178) states, ‘the territory centuriated could also be that of a municipium ’. land-surveyor records one such contradiction in regards to centuriated, but non-colonial, land in the province of Pannonia ( c.f.
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