The end of prehistoric communities in the Karst region

Abstract

In  this  paper,  archaeological  and  epigraphic  evidence  isscrutinized,  pertaining  to  indigenous  communities  in  thehinterlands of Trieste in the Late Prehistoric and Early Romanperiod. Not only the elements of “longue durée” of the settlementpattern,  but  also  the  mechanisms  of  change  are  considered.The key mechanism, which triggered the final collapse of thesocial structure of indigenous communities there, is identifiedin the act of granting Latin citizenship, such as documentedin the mid-second century A.D. by the honorary inscription toL. Fabius Severus (I. It. X 4,31), involving the communities ofthe Carni and Catali (or Subocrini).