Introduction

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In 1970, while in the process of constructing the Via Martiri di Rigo Secco a roman villa was discovered on the top of a hill in the town of Vescovado di Murlo.  Following this discovery a team of archaeologists was brought in to properly excavate the structure.  This excavation uncovered what appears to be a roman hypocaust system and some other architecture and dated the structure to the late republican period.  However, despite this excavation the full extent of the building was never understood.  Over the following decades, the area surrounding the the hypocaust began to change.  A fence was placed around the structure to protect it.  Additionally, the area of the hill to the west of the hypocaust was leveled off and a tennis court was constructed.  This construction resulted in the alteration of the hill itself.

In 2006, the decision was made to resume excavations at the villa in Vescovadoin association with the excavations at Poggio Civitate.  The first task will be to clean up the standing remains of the hypocaust and have the features drawn.  The standing remains themselves will be designated VT-1.  In addition to this, trenches will be established both to the north and south of VT-1.  VT-2, 3, 4, and 6 will be excavated to the south of the hypocaust, while VT-5 will be excavted to the north.

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Trench VT-3 will be excavated to the south of the standing remains and one meter to the south of VT-2.  Its coordinates on the afore mentioned grid system are: .27m E - 7.05m S, .17m E - 8.10m S, 2.80m W - 8.72m S, 3.04m W - 7.70m S. The datum point established on a cement pylon was originally set at 0 but its actual elevation is at 302.64m above sea level.  Absolute elevations will be provided at a later date.  Materials collected will be recorded in the following containers:

• Box - 1 liter
• Can - 50 liters
• Bowl - 30cm in diameter 10cm in depth

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