Cristianizzazione, culti e aree funerarie. Nuove acquisizioni dall'Abruzzo interno in età tardoantica

Abstract The issue of Christianity and ecclesiastical organization in Abruzzo has been the subject of renewed attention, based on new acquisitions, especially in archaeology in order to help in understanding more properly the poor historical data and materials. Written sources attest a background where Christianity seems to be already established and widely disseminated; however, the testimonies relating to the spread of early Christianity and to the transformation of space and, above all, to the funerary rituals, are still too scanty. In this context, some recent acquisitions gain an extraordinary importance, especially those relating to early Christian burial areas, as the “rediscovery” of a catacomb near San Lorenzo di Beffi (Acciaio, AQ).