Carlo Varaldo, previously a professor of Medieval Archaeology at the University of Genoa and Scientific Director of the International Institute of Ligurian Studies, is set to present the book “Remota loca. Place Names of Liguria (862-1100)” by Furio Ciciliot. This work, the 45th volume of the Historical Toponymy Project, will be introduced on Friday, November 22 at 4:30 PM at the Red Hall of the Municipality of Savona in Piazza Sisto IV. The event is organized by the Savona Society of Homeland History, sponsored by the City of Savona.
The 9th to 11th centuries represent a little-known period in Ligurian history due to a lack of information, yet they are crucial for the region’s development, foreshadowing the expansion of the Late Middle Ages. “Remota loca” provides an in-depth analysis of Ligurian place names based on written sources from 862 to 1100, examining data systematically.
The research investigates places and villages known only by their names, opening new avenues of investigation into ancient Roman and “barbarian” presences, forgotten uses of the land, and the stories of people and communities that transformed and managed it.
Carlo Varaldo’s presentation, a prominent figure in Ligurian archaeology, will enhance our understanding of the value of historical toponymy and the insights arising from this new collection of data, intertwining archaeology, history, geography, and linguistics.