The Etruscan settlement of Pietramarina is situated on the southern part of the summit of Montalbano, overlooking a vast territory. This strategic position caused the site to be occupied for a long period, which at present is documented from the 7th B.C. – 1st century A.D., with some traces of medieval use. The site was discovered during the surveys undertaken by F. Nicosia at the end of the 1960s. In 1973 some trenches were excavated as a consequence of forestry work and in 1984 two small trenches were opened on the eastern side but were then closed. The summit area is characterised by a horseshoe shaped mound which still covers most of the Etruscan perimeter wall (investigated on the west and south sides). Inside are Etruscan buildings, already partly identified in the more elevated northern zone (“alpha”, “beta” and “gamma”), and in the centre of the walled area (“delta”). Over the last few years research has looked at the southern part of the settlement, astride the perimeter wall where there was a substantial monumental structure with a series of rooms. The perimeter wall enclosing the hill summit was circa 360 m long, with internal and external facings in polygonal blocks. The walls stood directly on the rock and on the interior were protected by a drainage layer filling the foundation trench from which was recovered a few fragments of refined pottery and a body sherd of bucchero which provide a terminus post quem for this section of wall, placing it in the post archaic period. The most important building amongst those found to date, defined “beta”, had its long sides orientated on an east-west axis and an internal dividing wall. It stood in an area that was previously occupied by a hut settlement of the Orientalising period, evidence for which there was evidence in the form of post holes, rock-cut sockets and fragments of impasto dating to the 7th century B.C., and by the first fixed settlement, probably of archaic date (partly collapsed and in part cut, designated “gamma”). There was evidence of subsequent restructuring, which in part made use of earlier structures, up until the late Hellenistic period. Further south, a new building (“delta”) came to light, delimited to the east by a wall circa 16 m long, on the same axis as the archaic wall relating to structure “gamma”. Within the space enclosed by these structures there was an esarca sealed by a layer of baked clay. As the foundations have not yet been reached, it is not possible to provide precise dating, however, the fact remains that its orientation corresponds to that of the archaic structure and that the base of a bucchero vessel was found. In 2004 and 2005 the southern sector and the flat area outside of it were investigated. Here, evidence emerged of restructuring which also seemed to have involved the perimeter wall and a series of monumentalising interventions. Inside the wall a paved structure (“kappa”), was originally covered, at least in part, by a roof that was destroyed by fire, many traces of which were visible. The roof also covered two large semi-interred jars placed to the side of the paving and a hearth which produced remains of burnt bone and pottery fragments which may possibly be linked to a ritual function connected with this building. On the exterior of the northern side a square space paved with basalt (“zeta”), bordered by a large podium, perhaps with portico (“theta”), faced onto a large covered space (“epsilon”) containing four rectangular, aligned and equidistant structures. These were delimited by vertical slabs and filled with soil and stones so as to form a series of bases of unknown function. The fifth base, further east, was aligned with the others but was situated inside an adjacent room (“eta”).

_South area_ Most of the collapse of a wall over thirteen metres long was removed. The wall was almost parallel to the external front of the curtain walls – from which it diverged slightly, forming a “swallow tail”. The south facing was identified, but the surface on which the wall stands was not reached. A large part of the side facing towards the curtain walls (north) had been uncovered in previous campaigns. The excavation also confirmed the later date of this wall with respect to the curtain walls. Investigation of the curtain walls continued at the same time, both at the point where they were interrupted, probably in correspondence with an entrance, although no evidence of the facing remained, and at the western end, at the point where the southern part of the structure began to curve towards the north. Restoration work was undertaken and collapsed material removed. The walls presented the same structural characteristics as the preceding stretch investigated along the west side. Immediately inside the walls the excavation the area adjacent to the dolium storeroom was extended towards the north, reaching the destruction layer. To the south of the same room what remained of the roof collapse was removed reaching the west to east sloping surface onto which it had fallen. Excavation continued inside the dolium storeroom, removing the collapsed tiles left in situ by the previous campaign. Part of a fourth dolium was recovered together with other pottery. Sections of small carbonised beams from the roof collapse were also removed. _Internal buildings_ In the central part of the site (area d) excavation continued with the aim of identifying the south and west perimeters of the large building that is coming to light. Outside building b a large part of the collapse abutting the western perimeter wall was removed.

During the 2006-2008 excavations a section of the southern part of the curtain wall was brought to light, from the point in which the walls were interrupted – in correspondence with an ancient entrance – as far as the south-western end, where they began to turn north. In 2009, prior to the excavation of another curvilinear stretch of the wall, another trench was opened immediately to the north, in order to ascertain its line and state of preservation. At the point where the walls stopped what was probably an access ramp to the walled area was exposed below the layers of fill and collapse removed in previous years. The ramp was in correspondence with the above mentioned entrance that, together with the southern zone, was monumentalised during several restructuring interventions. Close to the entrance an internal ramp was also uncovered which climbed towards the terracing running west to east. A room (“ι”) of Hellenistic date, opening onto it, was destroyed by a fire. Four dolia and other pottery, including miniature vases, were found in this room. Excavations in the room in 2008 and 2009 revealed a carbonised wooden table on which a jar was standing, other wooden elements and a lathwork wall that had collapsed, together with the roof, following the fire. The complex monumental restructuring of the south area foresaw the construction of terracing (“θ”) originally fronted with large blocks, at least in its final phase. The terracing was attested by a deep layer of sandstone chippings and of several blocks found where they had collapsed, whilst the majority of the squared blocks must have been removed during robbing which continued until the middle of last century. The investigation of a preceding phase of terrace construction (preliminary date – second half of the 4th and the 3rd century B.C.) began in 2008 and continued in 2009, but was only investigated in depth in the eastern half. Here, the earliest structures were identified, probably dating to the archaic period, which were obliterated by the new construction. At the centre of the area enclosed by the walls, occupied by complex “δ”, excavations continued with the aim of defining the south and west perimeters of the building. In the western half of the area other walls emerged on a slightly different alignment with respect to those identified in the eastern half. Unfortunately, the entire area had been levelled with dumps of stones and earth taken from other parts of the settlement (now almost completely removed) and subsequent interventions, even of modern date, that have substantially altered the original situation and inevitable complicated the interpretation of the complex, slowing down the investigation of the ancient structures.

During the 2006-2008 campaigns part of the south stretch of the curtain wall were brought to light, from the point in which the walls were interrupted - in correspondence with an ancient gate – as far as the south-western end, where the wall began to curve to the north. In 2009, prior to excavating the curved part of the wall, a trench was opened immediately up hill (north), in order to check its line and state of preservation. This was also useful for the realisation of a hypothetical digital reconstruction to be used as an educational tool in the new museum of Artiminio and on the information panels in the Archaeological Park being created in collaboration with the Superintendency. At the point in which the walls stop in correspondence with the above mentioned entrance, which underwent a series of monumental alterations involving the entire southern zone, the situation appeared somewhat chaotic and the stratigraphy considerably disturbed. Below layers of fill and collapse removed during previous years, what was probably the ancient access ramp to the walled area is coming to light. Close to the entrance an inner ramp was also exposed, rising towards the terraces, from west to east. The Hellenistic room “ι”, destroyed by a violent fire, opened onto the ramp. The finds from this room included 4 dolia, jars, cups of fine grey and black glaze ware pottery and a miniature kyathos. The excavation inside the room also continued in 2009, revealing a carbonised wooden table on which one of the jars stood, parts of other wooden elements and of a lathwork wall which collapsed together with the roof during the fire. The complex monumental reconstruction of the southern area also foresaw the creation of terracing (room “θ”) originally faced with large blocks – at least in it its latest phase – attested by a massive dump of sandstone chippings (mainly without finds, with the exception of tile fragments in the upper part) and diverse blocks found in their collapsed position. Most of the squared elements must have been removed by robbing which continued into the middle of the last century. The investigation of an earlier terracing construction phase (preliminary dating between the second half of the 4th-3rd century B.C.) begun in 2008 and continued in 2009, but only in the eastern half reached the earliest structures, probably Archaic, obliterated by the new construction. At the centre of the area within the walls, occupied by complex “δ”, the excavation continued with the aim of completing the definition of the perimeter of the building in the south and west part. In the western half of the area other walls emerged, on a slightly different alignment from those to the east. Unfortunately, the entire area had been levelled by dumps of stones and earth taken from other points in the settlement (now almost completely removed) and subsequent interventions, even in the modern era. These have substantially altered the original situation and inevitably complicated the interpretation of the complex, slowing down the investigation of the ancient structures.

Excavations continued mainly in the south area – in the zone in front of the town walls (room μ) and the adjacent space (room λ). Work was also undertaken in building β situated in the northern part of the settlement. - Room μ: in the flat area outside the southern sector of the town walls, facing the “Casino dei Birri”, the collapse of the long, east-west wall running almost parallel to the town walls was removed. Below, a row of large, dressed sandstone slabs was exposed. They appeared to be on the same alignment and presumably related to the monumental reconstruction which involved the entire southern zone of the site, probably in the late Republican period, and for which evidence had already appeared at about 20 m further east (rooms ξ and ε). To the south, other slabs and dressed blocks, with fragments of decorative architectural cornices, seemed uprooted from their original positions. This was probably the result of the repeated robbing to which the site was subjected when construction material for building the medieval church of San Giusto removed. - Room λ: with the aim of defining the function of structures relating to the ancient phase of the terracing in the south area (room θ), investigations continued in the room which developed along its north side. Previously, a Hellenistic occupation level had been uncovered in this zone. This was partially covered by the collapse of a porch roof, circa two metres in depth, and a series of post holes for the supporting structures. It was necessary to extend the excavation area towards the north and north-west in order to intercept the continuation of the two structures emerging along the east and west sides of the roof structure. In 2011 excavation of this extension continued. This involved the removal of the upper layers of fill in post-Classical postholes and a substantial layer of various sized stones, perhaps a dump to level the area. This layer overlay several layers of very limited extension which were probably colluvial in origin. Below were two, almost horizontal, make ups probably relating to the lay-out of the external spaces. These were similar in composition and stratigraphic position to the levelling and reclamation of the area identified in earlier campaigns overlying the layer of collapse and burning of the dolia deposit. - Building : Excavation continued of the enormous collapse which covered – and still partially covers – room II of the building situated in the northern, and highest part, of the site. The stones constituting the structure were very large, however, it was agreed to continue excavating (with great care) in order to try to identify the line of the walls’ collapse. While the part between the south and west walls appeared somewhat rearranged, in the southern part, evidence was documented which probably related to a Hellenistic phase. This post-dated the original lay out of the building, which has yet to be exposed. The excavation showed the considerable height of the walls, preserved at the highest point (south-west corner) to over one and a half metres.

The 2012 excavations mainly continued the investigation of building β, situated in the northernmost part of the settlement. Work was also undertaken in the southern area, where monumental and scenographical restructuring in the Hellenistic period occupied the flat area in front of the town walls. The research confirmed the previous excavation data and suggested interpretations. In particular, the excavation in the southern zone, specifically in room μ, produced clearer evidence of cult use. In building β, the excavation of an enormous collapse occupying room II was almost completed, and work on the restoration of the walls started.

During this campaign the investigations mainly concentrated on building β, situated in the northernmost part of the settlement, and in the south area, in the flat zone in front of the town wall. In building β, the substantial layers of collapse occupying room II (c. 8.90 x 8.80 m) were removed , revealing the entrance opening in the east perimeter wall (facing towards Artimino), partially blocked in a second phase of use, and related floor surface. Important finds came out of the collapsed material (fragments of jars, impasto jars, well-levigated pottery, black glaze, a fragment of a basin in light-sandy impasto, and a few fragments of bucchero), with the exception of a Certosa type fibula and a bronze punch, all from the earliest phases of the collapse. From the centre to the southern half of the room several medium sized horizontal slabs began to emerge. Partially aligned, they could be part of a floor or a structure present inside the room. In the southern area, at about 3.50 m west of the paved courtyard and probable portico (ζ,), the perimeter of a building (μ) began to appear, delimited by structures built with large chiseled slabs, with an entrance facing east, in which clear signs of cult activity emerged. Although the structures have yet to be completely uncovered, their monumental character is evident. The finds attest the presence on the site of a cult site in use from at least the late archaic period until the Hellenistic period.

This season’s intervention involved recording and the consolidation of part of the curtain wall, in particular the south-western section of the structure. This enhanced the monument by making it immediately understandable to visitors as they arrive. Work to render the site safe took place on the north-western part of the wall.