Simulación de movilidad viaria en la región minera de Sisapo y Almadén en época romana: aplicación de análisis de redes (SIG)

[EN] This article examines mobility in the Roman mining micro-region of Almadén, focusing on the road networks that facilitated the extraction and transport of cinnabar (minium). This region is located in the southeastern part of the province of Ciudad Real, bordering the provinces of Badajoz and Córdoba. Through an interdisciplinary approach, combining historical and archaeological analysis with Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, the authors reconstruct the secondary mobility network and examine its role in the territorial and economic organisation of the region during the Roman period. The research employs the MADO (Optimal Displacement Accumulation Model) and GIS technologies to simulate the routes that connected mining centres to major distribution hubs, such as Córdoba, through primary routes like the Corduba-Sisapo road. The study integrates several datasets, including topographical analyses, ancient literary sources, and archaeological findings, to determine plausible paths for the transport of cinnabar. The findings highlight the strategic significance of Cerro de las Monas , identified as a crucial node within the secondary road network. This site's prominence is supported by its advantageous location, proximity to mining centres, and the archaeological remains indicative of its role in facilitating cinnabar transport. In addition, the study explores the wider settlement hierarchy in the region, with Sisapo standing out as the administrative and logistical hub for cinnabar production and distribution. This settlement probably played a pivotal role in controlling regional mobility and overseeing resource management. The research demonstrates how settlements such as Cerro de las Monas and Sisapo functioned collaboratively to optimise cinnabar extraction and distribution. Sisapo s position as the mining capital of Hispania consolidated its role in connecting local and imperial economic networks. From Sisapo, cinnabar would have reached Córdoba, where it was integrated into the larger Roman transport system, enabling its distribution across the Empire. Methodologically, the use of the MADO is particularly valuable to study areas where primary infrastructure left minimal physical traces. By simulating optimal routes based on topography, resource accessibility, and distances between settlements, this approach offers a new way to reconstruct mobility systems in historically complex landscapes. Additionally, GIS technology contributes to a comprehensive visualisation of the landscape, enhancing our understanding of how mobility networks evolved and operated within their historical contexts. These digital tools not only allow the reconstruction of ancient routes but also provide a framework for exploring human-environment interactions and the socio-economic dynamics of Roman mining regions. This article also reflects on the broader implications of network analysis in archaeology, particularly its potential to explore the intersection of human activities and natural landscapes. By applying these methods to the Almadén mining microregion, the research offers a case study that underscores the importance of integrating digital tools with traditional archaeological approaches. The insights gained here can serve as a methodological reference for future studies focused on mobility, resource management, and territorial organisation in other Roman provinces.

[ES] Este artículo analiza la movilidad en época romana en la microrregión minera de Almadén y su articulación territorial, centrándose en las redes de caminos que permitieron la evacuación del cinabrio (minium). Mediante el modelo de acumulación de desplazamiento óptimo (MADO) y tecnologías de Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG), se simula la red secundaria de vías, esenciales para comprender la circulación en un territorio cuya infraestructura primaria dejó escasa huella arqueológica. Considerando los factores de transporte y orografía, junto con las fuentes antiguas y la cultura material, se han reconstruido rutas posibles para el transporte del mineral hacia Córdoba, principal centro redistribuidor. Además, se revisan los asentamientos jerarquizados de la región, destacando el papel del yacimiento del Cerro de las Monas como eje económico y logístico clave. Paralelamente, se subraya la relevancia de Sisapo: capital administrativa del cinabrio hispano y responsable de la gestión y explotación de este recurso estratégico. El objetivo principal de la investigación es resaltar el papel fundamental que jugó el Cerro de las Monas en la organización económica de esta región minera; además, se exploran las posibilidades interpretativas que ofrecen los análisis SIG, como los modelos de redes de movilidad. Los resultados obtenidos aportan nuevas perspectivas sobre la organización territorial en contextos mineros y abren líneas de investigación comparativa que podrían ayudar a identificar patrones de movilidad en otras regiones productivas del Imperio.