Architecture and infrastructure in the Early Medieval village: the case of Tuscany

This article discusses the design and architectural structures of Early Medieval rural settlements in Tuscany, covering the period between the 7th and 10th c. It considers hut types, granaries and store-buildings, along with enclosures, roads, courtyards and artisanal structures. The construction of palisades, ditches and stone fortifications is also discussed. Technological characteristics are discussed in detail. A social interpretation of village development is presented. The origin of village settlement seems to be in the reaction of rural populations to the failure of centralised leadership in Late Antiquity, through the formation of communities, of an egalitarian nature, to cope with changed circumstances. The increasing structural complexity of the settlement is connected to the emergence of a resident elite.