Introduction

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In 1991, a master grid system was established for the entire site of Poggio Civitate.  A base line was created running east-west, through the Piano del Tesoro and into Civitate A & B areas of the site.  In order to shoot this baseline, brush had to be cleared from Civitate B.  While clearing brush, several semi-oroid rock formations were revealed in Civitate B.  Some of these features were excavated in order to better understand their nature and their relationship to other, known architectural features (see TT I). Based on the size and shape of these rock features and the pottery found inside of the rock features, these appear to be small tombs dateable to the 6th century BCE.

During the 1992 and 1996 excavation seasons, two of these formations provided more evidence that strongly indicated archaic pit burials (see EN IV & JAL I). Material recovered in

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these trenches was minimal, this conclusion is based on the material included and the intentional, unatural shaping of the rock formations.

In 2005, two trenches were opened in Civitate B, CB 33 and CB 34 were excavated over outcroppings of stone that appeared to be similar to those in the 1992 & 1996 seasons.  While evidence implied that the formation in CB 34 was not natural, no evidence was found to support the hypothesis that is served a funerary function (see JPB IV & ARN IV).

In 1992, a well, also dated to the 6th century BCE, was discovered in Civitate A, approximately 30 meters east of where some of the first rock formations were discovered (see CA 42). The presence of this well indicates that this point of the site may have been inhabited during the 6th century BCE, and numerous trenches have been opened near this well in order to look for

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houses, huts or any other architectural features that would indicate non-elite inhabitation of this area of the site (see AJC I, Introduction, for a more thorough treatment of excavations).

The majority of Civitate B area is located at a higher elevation than both the Civitate A and the Piano del Tesoro areas.  Therefore, it it impossible that the material recovered during the previous excavations of Civitate B or surface finds was the result of primary deposition, indicating that this part of the side was inhabited contemporaneously with Piano del Tesoro.

These previous finds and a recent clearing of vegetation in the area prompted further exploratory trenches to be opened in the 2010 season.  CB 36 and CB 37, located near the Medieval road, proved to be unhelpful in our understanding of the occupation of this area

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(see ARR I and DWM III).

CB 35 and CB 39 revealed the presence of an archaic period lens (see KRK V & ARR II). Additionally, CB 38 uncovered a strange deposit of dark, organic, clay-like soil surrounded by the typically sterile soil of Civitate B (see FGT I). However, the complete horizontal and vertical extents of both deposits was not fully revealed, prompting further excavations in this area for the 2011 season.

CB 50 will be opened by means of triangulation off of the eastern baulk of CB 38. The trench is a meter north of CB 38's extension, and extends four meters east.

CB 50 coordinates are:

NW: 43W, 96S

NE: 39W, 96S

SE: 39W, 98S

SW: 43W, 98S

The goals of CB 50 for the 2011 season will be:

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1) To better understand the area surrounding the deposits found in CB 38 and CB 39, and the sterile soil found in CB 43.

2)To recover dateable material from a secure context to better understand the occupation period of Civitate B.

3)To discover evidence of non-elite habitation on the western side of the hill in connection with the archaic well, located in CA.

4) To better understand the area of the site and reveal new stratigraphic and topographic information.

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