Introduction

In 2012, two trenches, CA70 (AAF II) and CA71 (CGL I), were opened in the southeastern area of Civitate A, approximately 5m to the north of the medieval road transecting the site and 70m to the west of the western wall of the 6th century Archaic Building.  Excavators in these two trenches exposed a linear arrangement of medium-sized stones, prompting further investigation of this area in both 2012 and 2013.  In total, thirteen trenches were opened in the area of CA70 and CA71, including these two trenches; these trenches are CA70 (AAF II), CA71 (CGL I), CA72 (AEG VII), CA73 (ARR V), CA74 (CAC I), CA76 (LHS II), CA77 (EC X), CA78 (AJC V), CA79 (EMO IV), CA80 (CLP I), CA81 (MLL I), CA82 (RDC I), and CA83 (KRK VI).

These thirteen trenches revealed two small, rectilinear structures with stone foundation walls, with the better preserved structure overlying the earlier, more poorly preserved building; both overlie an earlier, curvilinear structure.  An internally partitioned, secondary structure was attached to the latest rectilinear structure’s western wall.  Based on the architectural forms of these structures, they appear to be rectilinear buildings, the latest with an attached light-framed structure, possibly a shed.  All likely had wattle and daub walls resting atop the preserved stone foundation walls.  Both rectilinear buildings and the underlying curvilinear structure are small, with surface areas of approximately 15 square-meters.  Materials recovered from within the confines of the small, rectilinear buildings indicate that the structures were domestic spaces; numerous examples of cooking vessels were found here and the later structure preserves traces of a hearth.  Tablewares and other examples of finewares indicate that the later building dates to the end of the 7th century BCE, and therefore is contemporary with the latest phase of the Orientalizing Complex.

Immediately to the north of the rectilinear structures, excavators found high quantities of animal bones and weaving equipment, while in the adjacent shed, excavators recovered nearly 10kg of ferric slag.  The architectural forms of these structures, coupled with the finds from both within and surrounding these buildings, indicate that in 2012 and 2013, we excavated non-elite domestic spaces that also served as places of production for the inhabitants.  These are some of the first examples of non-elite architecture to be discovered on the hilltop of Poggio Civitate.

Current research focuses on non-elite members of the ancient community at Poggio Civitate.  Questions of how production was organized, how production related to social structures, and the creation and performance of both elite and non-elite identity guide our research efforts.  Therefore, we will undertake work in 2017 in order to reveal more materials associated with the non-elite inhabitants of Poggio Civitate.  To this end, two trenches, CA85 (AJM I) and CA86 (KRK XI) will be opened immediately to the west of the 2012-2013 trenches, in the hopes of discovering a westward continuation of the previously-discovered non-elite settlement.

This area of Civitate A also is situated in line with the three known wells of Poggio Civitate, which are located in trenches T15, T62, and CA42.  The placement of these three wells indicates that ancient inhabitants may have tapped into an underground fissure running roughly east-west across the site.  All three wells were dug in the 6th century and so, to date, we have no knowledge of 7th century water sources or water capture strategies.  Therefore, we will return to the area of the 2012 and 2013 excavations to further investigate water capture strategies.

CA86 will be opened for the following reasons:

1. To search for additional examples of non-elite architecture contemporary with the structures found in 2012 and 2013.
2. To search for examples of non-elite architecture dating to other phases of the site’s occupation, either the late 8th century or 6th century.
3. To determine if industrial space regularly is attached to non-elite domestic space and therefore, to better understand how production was organized at Poggio Civitate.
4. To investigate water capture strategies and hopefully reveal a water source dating to the 7th century.