This campaign undertaken by Milan University and the local Superintendency, concentrated on the vast complex excavated during previous seasons (2011-2015), denominated “building _Alfa_”. The 2015 excavation area was reopened and extended to the surrounding quadrants, which revealed a large amount of evidence relating to the site’s archaic phase, on which in about the mid 4th century building Alfa was constructed.

Building Alfa
This season’s excavations completed the investigation of the area immediately south of rooms E, D, and F, partially excavated last year. Low dry-stone walls dating to the archaic phase were uncovered (6th-early 5th century B.C.), in addition to the usual earth graves, robbed by clandestine excavators. The recording of room F was completed, which dates to the second half of the 4th century and therefore certainly belongs to building Alfa. The room contained two structures interpretable as hearths, situated along the western perimeter wall (US 1061). Two enchytrismòi burials (Tb. XXVII and XXIX) were found along the room’s south wall.

In the northern part of the excavation, beyond room F, two new sectors, I and H, were identified. Both dated to the archaic phase and were divided from room F by a passage running east-west, interpretable as a probable road surface. In sector H, probably and enclosure, a tomb was present (Tb. XXVIII), also disturbed. Still in situ, next to the burial there was the upper part of a bichrome geometric krater carefully placed on a bed of small stones. The position at the edge of the burial suggests its function was linked to rituals practiced directly on the tomb or that it was a grave marker.