The research on Monte Valassa in the area of the site known as Guardamonte, aims to further knowledge of the Middle and Recent Bronze Age settlement and of the Ligurian terrace settlement occupied between the 4th and 2nd century B.C., with sporadic occupation until the imperial period.

Work continued in June 2010 concentrating on the area of Trench 5, already excavated in previous years. Here, a stratigraphy over 2.20 m thick was investigated, relating to the Iron Age Ligurian settlement. The intervention was limited to cleaning with the collection of removable materials, photography and the digitising of the data. The main object of the investigation was the visible part of the ancient dry-stone containing walls and those of several related structures. These had been uncovered during previous campaigns and were still partially visible, constituted by stones and boulders, some of substantial dimensions, of Monte Vallassa sandstone. The procedure was necessary as part of the intervention to consolidate the structures in view of the enhancement of the archaeological area as part of the project Indagini nell’abitato arcaico del castelliere celto-ligure del Guardamonte (Archaeological Superintendency, Regione Alessandria, Regione Lombardia).

The project foresees the excavation and consolidation of the remains of a corner of the Ligurian 4th-3rd century B.C. settlement. Once consolidated the remains will constitute the object of further study but at the same time will enhance the site and extend the area open to visitors.

At the moment this work is underway on a room delimited by terracing walls which in the 4th century and still earlier in the 6th century B.C. had enabled the inhabitants to recover large surfaces on which to construct their huts or productive structures. The latter were often built abutting the terracing wall whose double function was documented during the excavation. The visible walls were cleaned and other, previously back-filled, structures were uncovered and cleaned. This work also produced new information regarding construction techniques and structural interventions in the settlement. The structures were then newly surveyed using a total station and photogrammetric imaging and put into CAD.

Following the cleaning circa fifty fragments of impasto pottery were collected, corresponding to the usual repertory of Iron Age Ligurian vases found in previous campaigns. The entire area was then reorganised in preparation for the opening to visitors following the consolidation of the structures.