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Excavation

  • Macchiabate
  • Timpone della Motta, Francavilla Marittima
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    Credits

    • The Italian Database is the result of a collaboration between:

      MIBAC (Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali - Direzione Generale per i Beni Archeologici),

      ICCD (Istituto Centrale per il Catalogo e la Documentazione) and

      AIAC (Associazione Internazionale di Archeologia Classica).

    • AIAC_logo logo

    Summary (English)

    • The 2014 campaign led to the discovery of five tombs datable to the 8th century B.C. Four were situated in the northern part of the area denominated Strada, where the University of Basle has excavated in previous years. The fifth tomb was found c. 30 m away, at the edge of a cultivated field.

      Three stone-lined graves, positioned side by side, were uncovered in the Strada area (Strada 13, 14 e 15). The burial of a woman aged between 40 and 60 years (Strada 14) was of particular interest. The skeleton was in a good state of preservation, but the woman had lost all her teeth while alive – clear evidence of the difficult living conditions at the time.
      Among the grave goods were numerous bronze fibulae (serpentine bow, with shield bow, and of the type with a rectangular ivory or bone plaquette/plate), a bronze disc found on the pelvis, and three vessels made of depurated pottery (jug, cup-ladle, and cup) placed by the feet.

      Tomb Strada 16 lay to the north of this group. Its dimensions of c. 4.3 × 2.9 m make it a “tomba a fossa monumentale”, a type already well-attested in the Strada area, characterised by an unusual floor of flat cobblestones and border of large rocks.
      The individual in the grave was perhaps female, among the grave goods were at least three, very badly fragmented, vases in depurated pottery, and several large amber pendants.

      The fifth tomb (De Leo 1) was discovered by chance. When it came to light during agricultural work, the University of Basle carried out a rescue excavation. In many ways this is an exceptional burial. It was that of a male individual buried together with his symbols of power including an iron axe, numerous bronze serpentine bow fibulae, a thick bronze ring, and bronze pendants.

      There were at least four vases in depurated pottery, a bronze lamina mesomphalus bowl, and a large bronze basin. The bronze basin and the fragments of a locally made krater with geometric motifs of Greek inspiration are of particular importance. In fact, they are unusual finds that do not fall within the local vase repertoire, and attest the intensity of contacts between the Italic, Greek and near Eastern élites.

    • Martin Guggisberg - Archäologisches Seminar, University of Basel 

    Director

    Team

    • Amélie Alterauge – Universität Bern
    • Brigitte Gubler
    • Norbert Spichtig – Archäologische Bodenforschung Basel-Stadt
    • Camilla Colombi - Archäologisches Seminar, University of Basel

    Research Body

    • Università di Basilea / Universität Basel

    Funding Body

    • Fondo Nazionale Svizzero per la Ricerca Scientifica

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