L’assetto sistematico della tutela archeologica: fondamenti costituzionali, prassi applicativa e ruolo delle cartografie archeologiche. I casi di Masseria Vicentino e del centro storico di Lecce

This paper examines the constitutional foundation and legal classification of archaeological restraints within the Italian legal system. Grounded in Article 9 of the Constitution, the protection of cultural heritage is framed not merely as an administrative task but as a fundamental and non-derogable principle that conditions the exercise of property rights and economic initiative. The analysis highlights how the public interest is intrinsically linked to the legal structure of the asset, characterizing the restraint as a legitimate conformation of property based on its social function, rather than an expropriatory act requiring compensation. Consequently, the administrative declaration of cultural interest is presented as a purely recognitive process that validates a pre-existing objective quality. This framework is further explored through the case studies of Masseria Vicentino and the historic centre of Lecce, emphasizing the role of the Archaeological Mapping as a critical technical instrument for ensuring administrative certainty and the objective identification of cultural value in both urban and rural contexts