The 2012 campaign concentrated on the survey of the archaeological remains visible around the lake of Alimini Grande and core sampling around its edges.

The survey

Archaeological material was present across the low hill (8-9 m a.s.l) overlooking the western shore of Alimini Grande. The remains extended over a surface of about 1.2 hectares. Visible at the site’s northern edge was the eastern continuation of a row of limestone blocks, partially investigated in 2010, running parallel to the bed of the Zuddea channel. Another row of blocks, partially hidden by vegetation, was preserved to the west of the church excavated in 2010. The visible part measured c. 13 m and was orientated east-west except for the westernmost end which seemed to curve towards the south. Two grain pits/cisterns were found in the central and upper parts of the site. Both were cut into the outcropping bedrock and were sub-circular at the top and had a bell-shaped profile.

The survey identified diverse types of pottery: the most representative class was kitchen-ware of Byzantine date, mainly cooking pots in orange or greyish clay.

Beyond the rise, two trenches were opened and the survey was extended into the surrounding fields with the aim of defining the size of the settlement in the locality of Pagliarone. The survey found two other scatters of material a few metres from that described above. These produced mainly medieval pottery, seemingly coeval with the material found on the site on top of the rise.

Core sampling

The sediment core sample (denominated ALI 2), taken close to the Alimini Grande Lake and the overlooking medieval settlement of Loc. Pagliarone, used a continuous percussion corer able to remove marsh sediment without interruption or contamination.

A sedimentary sequence of c. 9 m was recovered, mainly comprising peats of marsh origin and, in the lower part, sands whose characteristics suggest them to be of Aeolian origin. Following a first analysis of the ALI 2 stratigraphy undertaken in the field, it is possible to suggest that the entire sequence may be ascribed to the last 12,000 years.