This was the first excavation season and saw the participation of students and graduates from Rome’s three universities. Based on the data collected during preliminary surveys, it was decided to open three trenches (1, 2, 3) in the first entrance (chamber A) and trench 4 in the space denominated chamber B. Trench 3 was opened abutting an outcrop in the west wall that drastically reduces the size of the room. The excavation went down to c. 50 cm, reaching an archaeological level that was badly compromised by recent anthropic activity. Trench 1 was opened along the east wall of the room adjacent to the entrance, in correspondence with a wall niche that was probably a sink-hole. This level was also badly damaged by recent anthropic activity that cut the stalagmitic-surface present in the central part of the chamber. Three cobblestones painted with ochre, attributable to the Neolithic period, were found in the spoil from this trench.

Trench 2 was opened in the only area not damaged by recent activity. In addition to a first layer of disturbed surface soil, a layer c. 50 cm thick containing abundant archaeological material (US 3-4-8) that probably represents an occupation phase was identified. It was formed by heavy concentrations of ash dumped in natural depressions together with several truncated pyramid shaped loom-weights and fragments of semi-levigated, levigated and painted pottery, datable to between the 4th and 3rd century B.C.
In a central position, close to the entrance to tunnel C, trench 4 was opened in a position that covered the space between the east wall of the chamber and a large stalagmite abutting the west wall. On the surface, the present ground level appeared mixed with a particular concentration of pottery along the east edge of the trench where there was a small depression in the ground, which became more pronounced by the entrance to the tunnel (Chamber C). The excavation exposed a layer that still contained modern material, both ceramic and organic (US 100), over most of the trench area.

There was no modern material in the successive layer. US 102, examined in situ, had a sandy matrix with ash and charcoal, and contained numerous fragments of large pottery vessels and obsidian artefacts. Along the north-east edge of the trench, a stalagmitic crust was intercepted (US 103) incorporated within a more recent layer, containing charcoal, ash, numerous human remains and fragments of impasto pottery. At present, the position of any possible burials within the grotto remains unclear. Lastly, surface cleaning along the tunnel (Chamber C) revealed the presence of human bones and pottery fragments that had been disturbed in antiquity. This will be investigated next season.