The archaeological investigations at the abbey of S. Lucia at Rocca di Cambio (AQ) began in 2007. In 2010 work continued in the space in front of the church, where strips of different coloured earth were visible indicating the presence of walls below ground. There are no structures close to the church suggesting the presence of monastic buildings, a fact which increased the interest in this archaeological research.

The excavation uncovered the walls of a number of rooms, of different size, structure and construction. The structures related to each other in various positions through time between the first half of the 13th century, attested by a coin from the Venice mint datable to around 1254, found in the fill of a later bell-pit, and the end of the 14th century, attested by the absence of any pottery later than archaic majolica. The west side of the building complex, datable to the first half of the 13th century, was constituted by a series of adjoining rooms, interpretable as rooms for the monks’ use to the south, kitchens to the north and service rooms and passageways, with the church (the present presbytery of the building still standing) situated along the eastern side.

On the basis of typological comparisons with Cistercian and other monastic complexes within the territory and considering the differences due to the orography of the terrain, the north and south sides must have been occupied by productive structures, store-rooms and refectories to the north and by the capitular hall and dormitories to the south. It is not possible at present to state whether the structure had one or more storeys.

The bell-making kiln, found abutting the western perimeter, produced important evidence (clay moulds, metallic waste, kiln fragments etc) for the reconstruction of the casting process used by the craftsmen (the so-called “Teofilo” technique) and the characteristics of the artefact produced, a bell with a diameter of 43 cm and a maximum height of 50-60 cm.

Following the abandonment and collapse of the monastic complex during the 14th century, perhaps a consequence of the devastating earthquake of 1349 and the crisis of the monasteries in Abruzzo, only the church was restored. It was later transformed into the structure with three naves and large presbytery that stands today.
At the same time the northern part of the complex was used as a cemetery, the collapsed material was removed and the ashlar blocks used to surround the burials. To the south the area was occupied by temporary shelters or, in any case for non-religious purposes, as shown by analyses of the numerous archeo-zoological finds.

The substantial collapses on the surface, especially in the area to the north, and part of the ruins which were still standing, were probably later removed to be reused as building material. Climactic conditions and the alluvial layers from up the hill situated to the east contributed to the sealing and obliteration of the structures, completely cancelling the traces of the monastery.