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Introduction

In 1966, Timothy Gantz began excavation in the Civitate A property zone, which lays within close proximity to the Archaic structure. This trench was further explored through 1967 and 1968 in TG I, BH II, AM I, JW I, JW II, and Mary Sturgeon due to a high concentration of cream-wear, architectural pieces, and storage vessels. In these trench books, it is described that there were a series of irregularly arranged stones, however, much of the material derived from this trench was discovered below the stone packing, hinting at a deliberate placement of stones overlaying a type of dump. Many connecting frieze plaque fragments from the CA 2 area were discovered nearly 10 meters away from connecting pieces, further hinting at the idea of deliberate breakage and placement. The state of materials uncovered surrounding the Archaic structure is

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consistent with the collection of disassembled material discovered in the excavation of the wells at Poggio Civitate. This could lead to a better understanding of the deliberate placement of materials in sealing off available water sources during the Archaic Period shortly before the abandonment of the site. The purpose of the ornamental Archaic structure is still debated, however, further excavation within the area could aid in our understanding of the structure’s purpose and the type of relationship the surrounding inhabitants possessed with it.

The methodologies exercised during excavation of the earlier CA 2 trench and those in the immediate vicinity are not as detailed in describing the stratigraphy of the area and the finds Many supplemental finds lack elevation and coordinate information that’s

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necessary for our understanding of Poggio Civitate during the 7^th century. It is for this reason that further excavation and documentation of an area in close proximity to the original CA 2 trench is necessary to gain more detail of the original CA 2 trench, the Archaic structure, and the inhabitants of site.

CA 88 will be opened for the purpose of:

1. Explore the relationship between the Archaic structure and the surrounding materials discovered west of the building
2. To broaden our horizon of the stratigraphic region affiliated with the Civitate A area property zone
3. To further understand the disassembled architectural pieces discovered in the wells and the surrounding area of Poggio Civitate and their correlation with the abandonment of the site during the Archaic period
4. To aid in solidifying the purpose

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   of the Archaic structure with the surrounding region’s inhabitants