Survey of the territory. GIS of the Fortifications (Gsur) in Cyrenaica: typologies and examples

The team of Chieti University, in collaboration with local archaeologists of the Departments of Antiquities of Tripoli and Cyrene , is surveying intensively the chora of Cyrene since 1999, and one of the most spectacular typology of finds is represented by the fortified settlements, which are generally called locally gsur. However, they present different origins, functions and sub-typologies, although maintaining a common meaning depending on the Romano-Byzantine limes . In particular, some examples of gasr will be presented on the basis of their sub-typologies, in order to describe their common features and main differences. Moreover, their location along the main roads, widian, valleys and natural terraces seems to attest their hierarchical organization, their possible system of inter-visibility, and their direct control of the limes, as well as of the rural areas. For positioning more properly each of them a DGPS system has been used, in combination with HD satellite images, creating a layer of the GIS of the territory of Cyrene , specifically dedicated to the gsur system