Investigating fortified landscapes of Hellenistic Northern Epirus. Network of fortifications and strategies for the control of space

From the Early Hellenistic period, Epirus witnessed an extensive fortification of its landscape, marked by the redefinition of long-inhabited sites and the establishment of new fortifications exhibiting analogous architectural features and defensive strategies. Alongside the major walled towns that have been extensively investigated, a dense network of minor fortified sites has been identified, whose role within the regional framework remains unclear. Recent explorations in Northern Epirus (southern Albania) have employed multiscale and non-invasive methodologies to analyse these minor sites within their historical and topographical context. By applying cumulative viewshed analysis to the newly acquired dataset, this paper investigates the spatial and visual control of Hellenistic hilltop sites along the Pavlla River valley, revealing consistent strategies for monitoring key natural routes and the potential significance of intervisibility networks in reconstructing supra-regional connectivity.