Geo-archaeology along "Limitone dei Greci" in Brindisi province (Apulia, Italy)

The south part of Brindisi plain is characterized by the presence of a marine erosion scarp of the Plio-Pleistocene that expands to east-west direction in the middle of the two centers of Oria and Cellino San Marco. On its edge a cord of fossil dune rises and degrades towards east to end when the Oria-Cellino and Mesagne-San Donaci province roads cross. The top of the scarp is a suggestive landscape point because it dominates on a wide territory that is represented by the north part of "Salento plain". The outcrop of impermeable strata bears spring phenomena that, with different paleo-torrential grooves, dissect the scarp, they represent particularly interesting zones for human settlements since the prehistory. Behind the scarp there is "Limitone dei Greci". With this name it is indicated a separation zone between two different geologic formations where in the Pleistocene a coast line ran, which is marked today by a road course that develops among Oria and the cross with the Mesagne - San Pancrazio Salentino road. Nowadays down the scarp the Oria-Cellino San Marco road runs, in medieval age it was the border for the lombard territories, in the north, and Byzantine territories in the south. In its course there are the Paleolithic, the Neolithic and the Metal Age settlements, roman country villas and medieval houses with their different survivor sacred buildings.