Ferento was a Roman, early medieval and medieval town. It was a Roman municipium, bishop’s see until the 6th century and was finally destroyed in 1172. The excavation provided interesting data which not only regarded the earliest phases of occupation in the area (Etruscan evidence) but was also pertinent to the re-examination of problems relating to the characteristics of early medieval settlements up against the Lombard-Byzantine limes.

Investigations undertaken in the area north of the decumanus revealed specific elements that outline a facies typical of this geographical area. A precious source of information for the economic history of the period were the numerous coins found.

Trench I is situated north of the decumanus and the baths. The excavation campaigns undertaken from 1994 onwards have uncovered a stratigraphic sequence which runs from the late Republican period to the 12th century. It was possible to identify the use made of the area, which from the classical remains investigated so far seems to have housed structures used as warehouses and shops. From the early medieval period the area was delimited to the west by a large defensive wall in opus quadratum made of re-used tufa blocks. The abundant traces of burning, kilns and waste products together with the organisation of the buildings seems to indicate their use for a craft industry: the extraction and primary working of metal bearing ores from the local area.

Excavation in the western sector showed that in the rooms of Roman date, on the rubble of which the Byzantine fort was built, the opus spicatum floors had been preserved and were in use at least until the 5th-6th century A.D. Below the floor level was a ditch, cut into the tufa bed rock, filled with layers datable to the Imperial period and which may be interpreted as a lime kiln. Already in 2001 the accesses to two wells had emerged, one to the north was 2m deep and completely filled, the one to the south was only partially filled. The excavation revealed that the two were linked by a cuniculus.

In the eastern sector the portico was excavated. This had a system of small channels for rainwater collection and drainage, the removal of this feature brought to light a wall of probable Etruscan date, together with terracotta material and miniature vases which suggest it was a votive deposit.

The area of trench II, excavated in 2000, is situated at the edge of the Ferento plain. The cemetery area was at the outer edge of the trench. Burials were found in simple graves without tomb groups and on various alignments. This would suggest that the area was used in several different phases.

Investigations in trench III, opened in 2001 to the west of the Roman theatre, aimed to excavate the late Republican domus, in particular the rooms relating to the original layout and subsequent restructuring of the building. (MiBAC)