The archaeological investigations undertaken at Muro Tenente in 2009 foresaw (1) a series of surveys in the zone immediately to the east of the fortified area, aimed at checking the archaeological sites previously found; (2) a trench inside the fortified area, aimed at the study of the internal defensive wall and the collection of new data regarding its dating, phases of use and the various construction techniques used. The later phases of the curtain wall, probably of post 3rd century B.C. date, was identified in the eastern part of the trench. Here, a course of large irregular, rough-hewn limestone blocks was preserved on the side facing the lower city. The latest wall was built on an earlier wall, on a slightly different alignment.

Between the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd century B.C. the curtain wall had a well-defined structure. In the eastern part of the trench a stretch of wall was exposed on a north-east/south-west alignment, in perfect correspondence with that investigated in the 1990s. The western part of this wall had not survived, probably due to the slope towards the south-east, which had been suggested by the line of the collapses and recent agricultural work. In the western part of the trench another stretch of wall was exposed, slightly collapsed and on a north-south alignment. The two curtain walls were linked by a rectangular structure, built of carefully placed limston blocks. The shape and size of the structure suggest it was a rectangular tower. The presence of numerous tiles suggests it roofed with these materials. It is interesting to note that the inner walls of this phase were coeval with the external fortifications, which date to a period prior to the Roman conquest. The settlement’s central zone may have been further protected because it was the centre of important political, social and perhaps even religious functions.

The curtain wall with the tower was built on top of an earlier wall. The latter belonged to the third phase of the internal fortifications and was built, abutting the terrain, with large limestone blocks. This means that the centre of the settlement was at a higher level than the rest. In fact, it is still possible to see how the difference in height between the centre and outer areas reaches 5 m3. In order to ensure that the difference in height between north and south did not create problems for the wall’s construction large un-worked stones were placed against the foundation trench. The earliest curtain wall functioned as terracing and surrounded the archaic settlement. It may even have been in place in the Iron Age.