Joseph Mertens (17 January 1921 at Tienen – 1 July 2007 at Wezembeek, Belgium) was an accomplished 20th century Belgian archaeologist, known for his excavations of Alba Fucens and Herdonia.
After Cannae, several south Italian allies immediately went over to Hannibal: the Apulian towns of Salapia, Arpi and Herdonia and many of the Lucanians.