Introduction

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Introduction

Civitate A is the area to the north of the Medieval road leading to Piano del Tesoro, which makes up the large portion of the north slope of the hill. Previous excavation concentrated on the eastern extent of CA along the Archaic Period Complex, it was the discovery of Archaic metal roasting pits and a number of pieces of copper slag in CA 33 during the 1990 season which renewed interest in the western area ( JB I and JB III ).

In 1991 several trenches were excavated in the surrounding area. CA 37 contained what appeared to be an intentional deposit ( TT I ). CA 36, begun during the 1991 season and continued in the 1993 season, revealed another intentional deposit capped by stones ( JB IV and TT IV ). The materials from CA suggest an earlier date for their deposit than that associated with Piano del Tesoro to the east; the finds were generally characteristic of the late 8th century.

An Archaic Period well was discovered in CA ( JBB II , LS I , and MG II ). Excavation of the area surrounding the well in 1998 revealed another intentional deposit with a lozenge shaped stone capping in CA 42N ( MG II ).

Exploratory trenches CA 56, 57, 58, 59, and 60, dug to the north of CA 36, were excavated in 2007 ( AMA/CGM I , AMA/CGM III , AWB/JEM I , DBB/KMH I ,

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and JAH/JLL I ). Also in 2007 CA 55 was opened adjacent to CA 36 and led to a better understanding of that deposit and its associated stratigraphy ( CO II ).

In 2009 CA 61 and CA 62 were opened ( CO III and AEG I ). CA 62 was integral to understanding CA's stone capping features as there was a rectangular capping of stones 10-15 cm in size, about one meter by one and a half meters in dimension, visible at the modern surface level.

Further trenches in the 2010 season (CA 63-69; AJC I , CO IV , AEG II , JRV III , KEH/TMO I , JRV IV , EMO I ). did not further clarify the nature of CA deposits.

During the 2012 season, two test trenches, CA 70 and 71, were dropped about 60 meters east of the excavations detailed above( AAF II , CGL I ). Both trenches came down on seemingly linear rock features, and were extended to explore the features further. Subsequent trenches, CA 72, 73, and 74, were laid out surrounding CA 70 and 71 and uncovered further linear rock features ( AEG VI , ARR IV , CAC I ). All trenches uncovered significant amounts of iron slag and fragmentary, but well preserved, architectural terracottas, vitrified terracottas, two crucible fragments ( 20120102

and 20120194 ), and a bellows

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fragment ( 20120058

). Of particular note was a possible \x91load-bearing' wall uncovered in CA 72 and CA 73 running roughly north-south which appears to extend in CA 79. This wall may represent the Eastern most part of a potential architectural structure whose function may have been related to metal working.

In 2013 CA 79 will further investigate this area concurrently alongside trenches CA 76, 78, 77, CA 72 EXT, CA 73 EXT ( LHS II , AJC IV , EC X , AEG VII , ARR V ).

The goals of excavation for CA 79 are:

To explore the area immediately to the south of CA 72 and CA 73, in particular the load-bearing wall and the structure it may enclose

To clarify the chronology of the potential architectural features uncovered during the 2012 season

To potentially reveal new architectural features, stratigraphy, and topographic information

To explore the possibility of further metal working in the area

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To better understand and explore this area of Civitate A

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