Towards a spatial analysis of antique viticultural areas: the case study of Amos (Turkey) and some other places

Interpretation of ancient texts, such as the Amos epigraphic farming leases, questions both locations and spatial extents of the viticultural area, as well as soils, landscapes, cropping methods and the quality of grapes in the antique Greece. These issues may be partially answered undertaking spatial analysis of soils and landscape of the present day through digital morphometric and multispectral satellite data. This paper aims at discussing the possible locations of the Amos antique district and identifying the additional data and methodological developments that will be needed for a further zoning of its componing terroir units. It compares the viticultural and geographical details given in the leases prescriptions with a preliminary spatial analysis of the Amos region (Bozburun peninsula, southwest Turkey) using digital morphometric ASTER GDM data and Landsat ETM+ satellite data. The viticultural prescriptions in the Amos epigraphic farming leases discriminate between vineyards grown in “plain” and vineyards grown in “rocky terrain”. Considering both distances to coast, distances to the Amos cape, regional morphology, geology, present land use together, we consider that the antique Amos vineyards were located along the coastline in the Kumlubük bay at the foot of the Amos cape. Some other antique places are also discussed with a spatial analysis perspective.