The excavation area is situated on the south-western slope of Monte Duello, in the municipality of Montecchia di Crosara, in Via Casarotti, at about 109 m a.s.l. The area was surveyed prior to the beginning of excavations.

The research programmed for 2010 was undertaken using stratigraphical methodologies in order to trace the important Bartonian (middle to upper Eocene) deposit of marine molluscs and mammals, already known at the end of the 18th century. In fact, the geology and paleontology of Roncà has been studied by numerous scholars.
The paleontological excavations proper were preceded by a series of small test pits within the area already identified in the previous year, in order to locate with greater precision the historic fossil-bearing horizon.

The first excavation campaign took place between the 23rd and 28th August 2010 over an area of about 15 × 3 m. It was divided into area A (situated uphill from the farm road) and area B (below the road).
Five layers distinguished by variations in the lithology and fossil content were identified, described below from the top downwards:

Layer -1: 10 cm thick (7 cm in area B);

Layer 0: 26 cm thick (55 cm in area B). Micritic yellowish limestone with high percentage of biocasts, foraminifera, bivalves and gastropods;

Layer 1: 58 cm thick. Yellowish marly limestone locally finely laminated containing bivalves, gastropods and large nummulites. Limestone with a high fossil content;

Layer 2: 42 cm thick. Yellowish micritic limestone with bioclasts immersed in the matrix. Foraminifera and echinids present. Characteristic small (centimetric) limonite nodules;

Layer 3: 80 cm thick. White/greyish/yellowish micritic limestone, nodular with small bioclasts. Presence of nummulites, small corals, bivalves and sub-rounded centimetric clasts. Some of these clasts were clayified and reddish-brown and wine coloured;

Layer 4: 50 cm thick. White/greyish/yellowish micritic limestone with bioclasts, with nummulites. Layer 4 contained more fossils than layer 3. It is characterised by surfaces rich in fossils, some of large dimensions ( Velates and bivalves with shell and internal model, corals).

Only hand-tools were used for the excavation (hammers, wedges, chisels, shovels, picks etc). Rock samples were taken for thin-sectioning. From the preliminary analysis of the paleontological evidence it is clear that almost the entirety of the finds are molluscs (gastropods and bivalves) and Foraminiferia ( Nummulites brongniarti ).

Two shark’s teeth, a number of dental plaques (?) plant remains, echinoderms, crustaceans, corals ( Trochocyatus sinuosus?) and probable bones of Prototherium were also recovered. As regards the molluscs in particular the following genera were identified: Corbis, Ostrea, Cardita, Chama, Cyrena, Lucina, Velates, Calliostoma, Campanile, Xenophora, Terebellum, Pustularia, Ampullina, Athleta?
All fossil remains were taken to the Paleontological Museum of Roncà. Overall the excavation at Monte Duello recovered 316 paleontological finds.