The church of San Giovanni in Zoccoli, located in the northern area of the medieval centre of Viterbo, was built in the 1st half of 13st century, but was widely restored in 1880 and then in the 1950s, after the bombing in 1944.

Before the restoration of the paving of the church and annexes (2010-2013) a preventive archaeological excavation was carried out in November-Dicember 2010 and January 2011.

Furthermore, two trial excavations (m 2,5 × 2,5) were conducted in the left and in the right aisle of the church in order to evaluate date, depth and characteristics of the deposit. In the right aisle, under levels relating to restoration interventions on paving dating from the early modern period, was uncovered part of a medieval cemetery with “anthropomorphic” tombs, trapezoidal in shape, directly carved in the rocky bed and covered by the foundations of the Romanesque church. Only one of the five tombs uncovered was undisturbed and contained the skeleton of an adult individual. “Anthropomorphic” or “logette” tombs are well known in rock-cut contexts of Tuscia and also in Viterbo (Colle del Duomo) and date probably until the 10th-11th century.