The University of Tuscia, in collaboration with the Archaeological Superintendency for Lazio and South Etruria, began a series of archaeological investigations following surface and geophysical surveys on the site of San Valentino (Soriano nel Cimino, VT), situated on promontory overlooking the Tiber valley.

Once the excavation area had been identified, the layers of collapse covering the entire surface of a church (20 × 8 m). The building’s perimeter was exposed, revealing a church with a single aisle and apse, on a north-east/south-west alignment, memory of which had been completely lost. Given the considerable size of the area, it was decided to only deepen the excavation in half of the building, choosing the sector towards the apse. The removal of the layers of collapse revealed what must have been the floor level (the paving was not preserved), which was used from the structure’s origin for burials, one of which still in situ. This was an earth grave, without grave goods but in primary deposition. It can be associated with a larger cemetery that is visible around the building itself and delimited by an enclosure wall inside which there are numerous monolithic sarcophagi.
The deepening of the excavation uncovered enough of the perimeter walls to make it possible to document the construction technique.
Observation of the wall provided further confirmation of what the plan itself indicated regarding dating. The size of the building and the construction technique correspond with those used in the Romanesque period in the territory of Viterbo, suggesting a 12th century date. In particular, the modules used for the stone cutting, which do not exceed 27 cm in height, find parallels in construction techniques present in some examples of Romanesque churches, for example, San Pietro in Tuscania. However, small differences can be seen in our building, both in the working of the blocks and in the way they are positioned in some parts such as the apse and the perimeter walls, which certainly indicate the use of different builders; and a long period of use, as documented by a late 15th century document.

On the other hand, the first cleaning of the area in the immediate vicinity of the building revealed traces of the rooms abutting it, evidence of the long occupation of the site. Furthermore, there are numerous “pestarole” (vats/structures for pounding-crushing), single, with drainage channels, linked one to another and of various forms. It is not certain what they were used for but it probably relates to agricultural-farming seasonal or occasional activities, which involved the use of liquids.
A preliminary study of the finds suggests they cover the entire chronological span, which runs from the mid 12th century to the modern period.