In 2009 excavation on the Late Bronze Age site of Sorgenti della Nova concentrated on sectors Vb and XII, opened in the previous year.

In sector Vb excavation continued of the area at the eastern end of the large “ditch” dwelling, close to one of the entrances. Here, the layers of collapse sealing the structure had been removed and occupation levels identified during the two preceding campaigns. This campaign investigated a single layer of considerable depth, constituted by stones and the breakdown of the bed-rock, which seemed to attest a phase of abandonment between two phases of the structure’s use. As in previous years a large amount of pottery was found, all datable to the Late Bronze Age. In the same sector work continued on a second front, opened the previous year in order to investigate the hypothesised continuation of the “ditch” structure, on the opposite side from the access stairway to the top of the rock, at circa 12 m from the former eastern edge of sector Vb. Here, in the last season, layers of accumulated material that had fallen from above were removed and the surface of the rock was reached. The surface was cut by post holes and a small channel. Excavation of all the previously identified structures revealed an articulated and interesting situation, with at least two different occupation phases on the terrace, both in the Late Bronze Age. During the second phase the surface of the rock was partially lowered, cancelling the traces of the earlier structures, in order to make room for a structure, perhaps circular, with foundations on top of the small channel, of which the up hill part was preserved. Furthermore, on the uphill edge of the excavation, right on the section edge, a cut in the rock was identified which seemed to delineate another sunken structure. It remains to be seen whether this was the continuation of the “ditch” structure or was an independent structure.

Sector XII, was situated on the eastern part of the rock, south-east of the medieval tower. At the end of the 2008 season a scatter of impasto pottery was seen on the surface and subsequent surface cleaning revealed a cut in the rock filled with collapse and proto-historic material. The beginning of the excavation delimited the rock-cut structure, perhaps a collapsed grotto, or more probably a large sunken hut.

Down hill in this sector erosion had revealed two parallel rock-cut channels in the artificially levelled surface and part of a layer rich in impasto pottery, elements confirming the structure’s Late Bronze Age dating. Finally, with the collaboration of the Gruppo Speleologico Maremmano, lead by Carlo Cavanna, a subterranean cavity was identified and partially explored. This came to light due to the collapse of the terrain, at a short distance from the source of the Nova torrent. The cavity was part of a network of rock-cut cuniculi, at present of unknown date, probably linked to the cavity where the torrent springs.