Excavations on the site of Civita di Tricarico (MT) reopened in 2013. A second campaign took place in 2014, as part of the Ignobilia appida Lucanorum project. The new trenches were put in on the temple uncovered in 1973 on the so-called acropolis. The aim was to investigate the relationship of the sacred area with the surrounding urban fabric and look for evidence of any phase pre-dating the temple.

A wall of large limestone ashlar blocks was uncovered in the trench opened in the south wing of the podium (fig. 1), cut by the podium’s lower course, while the south wall of the cella, with shallower foundations, rested on it. The wall’s foundation trench was cut into almost sterile yellowish clay that in turn overlay a bank of natural marl. The layers covering the wall contained pottery dating to the 4th century B.C. (elsewhere in the podium fill later pottery was found, dating to at least the late 3rd century). This wall did not continue either to the north or to the south of the podium. The temple therefore completely covered the structure of which only this one wall is known for the moment.

To the west of the building behind the tempietto, there was a wall bonded with cement mortar (2nd century B.C.) that probably formed the border of the sacred area, separating it from the road leading to the north-east gate, a distance of only 70 m. A parallel wall, quite clearly visible on the geophysical survey results, but not visible on the ground, perhaps formed the other side of a portico. The wall with mortar was followed for over 18 m, up to the point where it joined the supporting wall of the acropolis’ upper terrace. However, the resistivity survey indicated that it must have been at least 50 m long.

The excavation also acquired important data for the tempietto itself – a typical example of a so-called Etruscan-Italic temple with alae. One of the blocks from the entrance staircase was reused and presented a cyma recta on its short side. This moulded block was probably cracked before being put into position (or during this operation) and, for this reason, was discarded and substituted with another. It must have been part of the upper cornice of one of the rear corners of the podium.

The 2013-2014 excavations recovered six new tile stamps, with the abbreviation Ve.Kar, identical to the 12 examples already known from the acropolis and the excavation of the tempietto. The six stamps come from surface layers, or from the interface between the latter and the in situ archaeological levels, therefore it is not possible to say whether they belong to the first or second phase.