Introduction

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Introduction:

Civitate A extends from the northeast to the south of Piano del Tesoro, the plateau upon which the ancient settlement of PoggioCivitate lies. In the northeastern extent of Civitate A, several significant features pertinent to the ancient settlement of this area have been found. Included in this grouping of features is the Archaic period well. This well was excavated and found to be filled with tiles and pottery and capped with stones so as to ensure that it could no longer be used as a water source. In addition, roasting pits were discovered and these features seem to indicate production activity on this part of the hill.

The 2012 excavation season in Civitate A (CA 70 and 71) will occur in the southern most extent of the area, roughly ten meters across the road from the trenches to be opened in Civitate B (52, 53, 54, 55, 56). Significant findings in CB could therefore be highly revealing and contextually enlightening to the understanding of discoveries in CA-70 and CA-71.

Excavation of Civitate B in 2010 and 2011 was conducted in part to search for evidence of non-elite habitation on the western side of the hill. Excavation did not lead to discoveries of this sort, however, CB 39 (ARR II) yielded an intentional deposition

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of terracotta roofing materials associated with the Archaic-era settlement of PoggioCivitate and additional exploratory trenches (CB 45, 46, 47, and 49) revealed a rock formation resembling a cobbling of stone, lending credibility to the of habitation in the vicinity. The 2012 season will be partially focused on the continuation of this search for areas of habitation separate from the residence on Piano del Tesoro.

CA 71 will thus be opened with the following goals in mind:

1. To better understand the relationship, if any, between CB 38, 39, the findings in Civitate A, and the main settlement on Piano del Tesoro.

2. To search for evidence of non-elite habitation on the western side of the hill, in association with the well located in Civitate A and in an area near, yet lower in elevation, to the elite settlement on Piano del Tesoro.

3. To better understand an area lacking stratigraphic and topographic information due to its short history of excavation.

4. To recover datable material from a secure context within the archaeological matrix.