The archaeological excavation in the locality of Podere Pievina, Cinigiano (GR), is part of a larger project “The Roman Peasant Project”, developed by Cornell – Ithaca University-New York, and the Laboratorio di Archeologia dei Paesaggi e Telerilevamento of the University of Siena.

The site, discovered during a field survey undertaken between 2006-2008, was organised into several topographic units dating between the late Republican and late antique periods. Stratigraphic investigation mainly concentrated on an open area corresponding with anomalies picked up by a geophysical survey.

The excavation identified two occupation phases: the first datable to between the 2nd century B.C. and the beginning of the 1st century A.D. and the second between the full 4th and 5th century A.D.

The late Republican-early Imperial phase was characterised by the presence of a structure of which two well-built perpendicular walls were uncovered. The presence of alluvial deposits up against the structure and the rising of the water-table impeded further investigation. Thus neither its actual extension nor its function could be established, although the dimensions suggest it was a large farm. This was situated in the easternmost part of the trench and was covered by an alluvial layer. At the western end of the trench, occupation layers were exposed characterised by the presence of black glaze pottery, bone and charcoal and a hearth in part constituted by the wall of a dolium. To the north a probable tile kiln came to light. Beside it was a dump of pottery that was not produced in loco, mainly constituted by amphorae and coarse wares. The context seemed to date to the 1st century B.C. A series of pilasters, perhaps a granary, and a series of dry stone walls also belonged to this phase.

The second period identified, dating to the full 4th and the 5th century, was characterised by a series of occupation phases which may be defined as generational. The first late antique phase was represented by a dwelling which partly reused a wall from the preceding period. The structure, built using mixed techniques, comprised three walls and an extension to the east, of contemporary or slightly later date. The extension comprised a frame of posts for which the post-holes were found.

The area outside the dwelling to the west, characterised by layers containing abundant late antique pottery, three post-holes and a small channel of imbrices, was certainly linked to the occupation phase of the house. It is possible to suggest that the small room and the structures supported by the posts formed a structure providing shelter for both animals and men.

It was clear that water was not only an attraction but also a problem to be dealt with even then. The drainage system, on which the late antique walls of the houses were built, was formed of small tunnels lined with stones and filled with cobbles which allowed the flow of water. The last late antique phase, following the abandonment of the house, was characterised by the large scale reorganisation of the area, partly in correspondence with the long Republican wall, and partly by a large dump of pottery and bones. The dump provides important evidence which may help to understand the time difference, probably generational, between the abandonment of the house and the new layout. Unfortunately it was not possible to identify the dwelling that must have existed in relation to the dump.