In 2012, investigations continued in the town of Peltuinum, in the areas of the theatre and tower no. 7.

THEATRE AND POST-ANTIQUE ROOMS

In the orchestra, the excavation of the lime kiln identified during earlier campaigns revealed a substantial part of the lining and documented the collapse of the upper elements and, in one sector, the organization of the limestone fragments awaiting firing. Among these were fragments of architectural decoration and steps from the cavea, as well as shapeless lumps, some of which identifiable as caementa. The deepening of the excavation confirmed the lime kiln to be of the corridor type.

The excavation of shafts II, III, and IV, situated in front of the pulpitum wall and connected to the functioning of the stage curtain, was completed. In the shafts there was a layer of fill containing tegulae and imbrices from the roof of the scene building and pottery. Below this lay numerous bones, the analysis of those from II and III, showed that they belonged to infants and dogs, with a very few remains of bones of large animals showing butchery marks. The infants were newborns, premature babies, and full-term fetuses. An exceptional find, it is suggested that this was a sort of cemetery for infants burials used during a period of famine, an epidemic or perhaps for voluntary abortions.

The excavation of shaft VI was fundamental for the study of the period in which the theatre was dismantled and the construction site phases, as the structure was sealed by the paving of room ζ and consequently had not suffer the effects of the weather, in particular rain, which, together with small animals (reptiles and rodents), had definitely disturbed the stratigraphy in the other shafts that had remained exposed.

Shaft VI also contained layers of collapse and rubble from the theatre building’s demolition as well as a layer of dog and infant bones. Above this level, the find of a few fragments of 15th century majolica provided important dating evidence. The excavation of this shaft was not completed, however the new layer presented several long bones from large herbivores.

The excavation of the post antique structures, relating to the demolition site installed in the southern part of the theatre, continued in room ε (the second from the east). Following the removal of the materials from the demolition site that had accumulated up against the west wall, the deepening of the excavation exposed a number of floor surfaces made up of distinctly formed layers. Below these lay two stretches of the water channel and a second lime kiln, installed, like the first, in the orchestra at the foot of the cavea tiers. The position of this new, smaller lime kiln was also determined by the technical requirements necessary for the correct functioning of the kiln. The discovery of the structure explained the presence of the largest of the relieving arches in the west wall of room ε: it was necessary to bridge a sector of unstable terrain constituted by dumped material. The smallest relieving arch in the same wall was built to bridge a sewer. Excavation continued of the theatre’s demolition site, which overlay the southern half of the structure (rooms α, β, γ, δ, ε, ζ). Shaft VI was excavated inside room ζ and the investigation was extended to the area outside this room to the south. The area beyond the threshold presented levels of dumped material connected with the work undertaken to turn the nearby fortalice into a museum.

THE FORTIFICATIONS

The investigations inside tower 7 reached the level of the euthynteria, built in an earth foundation trench, exploiting the natural difference in height for the construction of the northern sector. The foundation stratigraphy was also checked outside the tower, but no dating evidence was found here either.