The present study is a quantitative and qualitative approach to instrumental consumption between the second century BC and the third century AD in small towns - a territory corresponding to the current region Centre. A global analysis of small artifacts was performed for twelve sites. An attempt to formalize data is offered by the use of statistical analysis to represent clear and concrete phenomena also felt empirically. Two main lines of thought are pursued. The analysis of the evolution of artefacts over time reveals the rhythms of different changes depending on the categories of artifacts chosen. These can be interpreted in two ways: a slow and internal evolution to be taken into consideration the population and external contribution of the Mediterranean world during the end of the first century BC until the middle of the fi rst century AD. The second issue focuses on the understanding that characterizes this type of settlement interposed between the capital of the territory and the rural group settlements. On every small town studied we noticed an accumulation of artifacts, a variety of crafts and evidence of exchanges and dense circulation of goods and people. The approach performed over a long time allows the identification of common characteristics between the sites at the end of the Iron Age and those of ancient times on the functional plan and provides new information on the history of urbanization phenomena during this transitional period.
