The archaeological site “La Villa” is located between Gioiella and Vaiano on a hill just to the north of Lago di Chiusi. To the east of the site is a Roman cistern and what is likely a segment of ancient road. A surface survey of the Vaiano-Gioiella Villa site conducted in 2015 revealed that the site was occupied, but perhaps not continuously, from the 2nd century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D. The distribution of material recovered from the surface in 2015 also suggested that this was a large complex with at least two distinct building areas: one to the south, where fragments belonging to a thermal structure were recovered, and another to the north.

The first season of excavation was conducted in 2016 with approximately 15 days of fieldwork between 6 June and 4 July. Based on the density and distribution of materials recorded during the 2015 survey, the project began excavation on the eastern edge of the site. Prior to excavation, a geophysical survey (resistivity) was completed in that area. The results indicated a possible ‘surface’ and helped determine the location of the four (4 × 4 meter) excavation squares for 2016.

Towards the north of the excavated area, an accumulation of debris was uncovered. The deposition of this stratum indicates it was formed by agricultural activity on the site and likely spread from further up the slope of the hill (to the north and west). Below the debris a layer of natural sand was encountered, which was the ‘surface’ indicated in the geophysical survey and which likely represents the eastern limits of the site. To the south and west, however, a remarkably dense collapse from a building was uncovered. This deposit consisted almost entirely of roof tiles, a few floor tiles, and at least one piece of cocciopesto flooring. In 2016 a small area of this collapse was excavated, but over 153 kg of tile was recovered within an area of just 1×4 meters.

However, the most interesting discovery was a channel that had been cut into the natural sediment (the sand) and then covered with tiles pitched to form a triangular covering. Two segments of the tiles were removed during excavation in order to recover the sediment inside the channel and to find the bottom. Surprisingly, there was no bottom tile. Nevertheless, this appears to be a drainage system constructed directly on the natural sediment and taking advantage of the natural absorptive properties of the sand. The channel is at least 6.5 meters long but its overall length remains to be discovered. Parallel and to the north of one segment of the channel is a short stone wall constructed in at least three phases. Stratigraphically, the channel was constructed first; the wall was a later addition, perhaps as a retaining effort against the sand on the north side.

Material from the excavation confirms that there was a thermal complex on the site, as there are examples of suspensurae tiles, tubuli for heating the walls, and mosaic fragments. The excavations also uncovered several examples of Sigillata Italica (Arretina) with manufacturers’ stamps. Finally, the recovery of numerous artifacts with traces of burning, including a large tile waster, indicates that ceramics and possibly metals were produced at this villa complex. (Rebecca Schindler)