The 2006 campaign was undertaken in September-October and concentrated on the prehistoric levels in Trenches IV, IX and X of the so-called ‘area Castello’. In all three cases the areas were situated in zones of the settlement adjoining the internal front of the Bronze Age fortifications and constituted the enlargement or deepening of trenches opened in previous seasons. The investigations in SAS IV led to the extension of the excavation along the trench’s east side, thus extending the investigation of a large hut destroyed by fire in the Final Bronze Age 2. Below a thick layer of charcoal rich earth, resulting from the collapse of the walls and roof, the beaten clay floor was exposed, together with a rectangular hearth slab (85 cm long) made from clay mortar and crushed calcarenite hardened by fire. On the floor close to the hearth were numerous pottery vessels of impasto and plain ware with proto-geometric decoration, mostly intact or completely reconstructable. Among these was a large jar, embedded up to the rim in the floor. By the north-western edge of the promontory (SAS IX) work begun in 2005 was completed, including the cleaning and checking of the stratigraphic sections and the completion of the graphic documentation. The investigations in this area had explored the southern end of the so-called ‘hut-temple’, bordered to the west and south by a pathway paved with loose stones. The removal of the latter revealed a complex stratigraphic sequence of levels and structures datable to between the Recent and Final Bronze Age. The evidence for the sub-Apennine settlement in this area comprised structures and spaces in front of the interior line of the fortifications. The latter were faced with parallelepiped calcarenite blocks and were preserved to a height of over 3 m. The archaeological levels produced substantial quantities of impasto pottery and numerous Aegean type terracotta figurines. Excavations in SAS X extended the 2005 trench and checked the stratigraphic sequence relating to phases IV and III. The excavation of phase IV (Final Bronze Age 1) revealed, in the western part of the trench, a cobbled floor with a hearth (a conchoidal cavity circa one metre in diameter, completely filled with ash and charcoal fragments) and a series of large impasto containers of closed form. To the east there was a beaten floor surface and the post holes from part of a hut that was apparently destroyed by fire, it produced only a modest amount of archaeological material. The excavated layers relating to phase III (late Bronze Age 2) documented occupation levels, the floor surface and numerous post holes from a hut reused as a workshop dealing with hard animal materials. Among the finds were numerous hippopotamus teeth.

This campaign was undertaken between September-November and investigated the prehistoric levels in Trenches II, IV, IX and X of the so-called ‘area Castello’. In all cases the trenches were adjacent to each other and the internal front of the Bronze Age fortifications and constituted the enlargement or deepening of trenches from previous seasons. In the same period a number of decaying timber protective structures were replaced in the area of the ‘Porta Monumentale’ of the Apenninic fortifications . In SAS IX and the adjacent SAS II levels relating to the late and final Bronze Age were excavated, whose complexity had been documented in the previous campaigns. The data relating to the Final Bronze Age 2 were particularly interesting. The existence of a series of large buildings was confirmed, whose interiors were divided by regular rows of large posts and perimeters were marked by pathways paved with loose stones. The excavations in SAS II identified part of a building situated south/south-east of the ‘hut-temple’, on the other side of an open area and at the edge of the ramp that must have led to the door. Inside, a number of terracotta ovens/cooking stands and abundant impasto and plain ware pottery was found on a beaten clay floor. Excavations in SAS IV slightly enlarged the 2006 trench. Of note the find of at least another two well-preserved terracotta ovens/cooking stands and of two large plain ware basins with proto-geometric decoration situated one beside the other, the bases embedded in the floor surface. An area of circa 20 m2 was excavated in SAS X, at the centre of which a deep late medieval cut showed the deep stratigraphy. The investigations stopped at the Phase IV (Final Bronze 1) level. This phase presented a floor surface and post-holes relating to a hut already identified in 2006. Furthermore, an external area was documented, situated between the structure and the internal front of the fortifications, roughly paved with loose stones. Maintenance was carried out on the area of the ‘Porta Monumentale’ in the Apenninic fortifications and some stratigraphic excavation was undertaken in order to revise and complete the graphic and photographic documentation. This involved the collapses blocking the gate, the post holes along the wall facings and a section of beaten floor surface delimited by orthostats. A number of fragments from a Mycenean kylix datable to the TEIIIA2 were found.

The excavations were undertaken between the 10th September and 15th October. The work involved interventions in three different sectors: SAS IX situated in the ‘Castello-Carrare’ zone, in an underground funerary structure in the zone of the ‘Grotta Poesia Grande’, partially explored at the end of the 2007 campaign, and in the area of ‘Grotta Poesia Piccola’, where new trenches were opened (SAS XVIII-XIX). Excavations begun in earlier campaigns were completed in SAS IX and new data acquired regarding the Recent Bronze Age phases and the development of this part of the settlement up until the Final Bronze Age 2. The predominantly cult use of the area was confirmed, with evidence of the celebration of animal sacrifices, the deposition of fully fleshed quarters of large animals and of communal feasting, all of which has provided precious information regarding the beliefs and rituals of the indigenous populations in the 2nd millennium. Just as important was the discovery in this trench of a vast quantity (over 2000 fragments) of Aegean type plain ware pottery. An interesting underground structure was found in the area of the two karstic cavities known as ‘Poesia Grande’ and ‘Poesia Piccola’, about 200 m south of the prehistoric settlement. This area had been freed of recent dumped material during the 2007 season. The structure comprised two communicating ‘grotticelle’ preceded by a short dromos. The vault of the first was partially collapsed. Excavations confirmed that this was a funerary structure, the first monumental burial of the prehistoric community at Roca. The tomb, only partially investigated, seemed to contain the remains of tens of individuals; the small amount of material found to date suggests a generic dating to the Bronze Age. Two large trenches (XVIII and XIX) were opened to the west and south of the ‘Grotta Poesia’. In SAS XVIII a rock-cut ditch was investigated and identified for a length of circa 100 m. It was circa 2.50 m and 2 m deep. As regards the dating, the uppermost part of the fill (circa 50 cm) mainly comprised material dumped at the end of the 4th century B.C. when the ditch was already full of earth mixed with stones and containing fragments of late archaic pottery. Excavations in trenches XVIII and XIX also provided important new data on the life of Roca during the 4th-3rd century B.C. The remains of buildings and enclosures came to light together with a stretch (circa 80 m) of a wide road on an east-west alignment, with two side roads flanked by buildings. In the same area 22 tombs were identified and excavated, containing single and multiple burials, also datable to the 4th-3rd century B.C.

The campaign took place between the 7th September and 13th November. Excavations were undertaken inside the prehistoric fortifications in SAS IX where several sectors of the settlement situated in the proximity of the inner front, in particular to the north of the gate, were investigated. The aim was to look at the prehistoric levels in order to check the stratigraphy and collect new data relating to the sequence uncovered during previous campaigns (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). The sequence was characterised by occupation levels from at least seven distinct phases, dating to between the Recent Bronze Age 1-2 and the Final Bronze Age 2. The 2009 excavations examined the phases from the end of the Recent Bronze Age 1 to a transitional horizon between the Recent Bronze 2- Final Bronze 1 (phases 1-V). The excavations aimed to add further detail to the picture of the spatial organisation in this area, both in order to confirm its cult function and its residential function in the phases pre-dating BF2, when the so-called “hut-temple” was built. In the Recent Bronze 2 levels the remains of articulated animal skeletons were present, the result of sacrifices followed by ritual deposition. These were associated with large quantities of pottery, both impasto and Aegean type plain ware. Of note, the low fragmentation and dispersion and the fact that most if the vases were largely reconstructable. The underlying layers, apparently datable to a late horizon in the recent Bronze Age 1 and an early moment in the Recent Bronze Age 2, were characterised by the presence of dense and thick ash lenses associated with metal artefacts, malacological remains, botanical remains, faunal remains with butchery marks and almost completely reconstructable pottery containers. Exploration of the inner front of the fortification produced new data regarding two construction interventions pre-dating the final Bronze Age 2. The earliest was documented by long stretches of a scarp faced wall, dry-stone built with parallelepiped blocks of local calcarenite. The later intervention was attested by a vertical wall built of similar material, in a slightly more advanced position. The occupation levels abutting these walls were investigated and produced abundant local impasto and Aegean type plain ware pottery which dated the two interventions respectively to the Recent Bronze Age 2 and a transitional phase between the Recent Bronze Age 2-Final Bronze Age 1. Of note among the local material, numerous impasto vases with grooved decoration which finds parallels in productions typical of the “Terramare” area, thus providing further evidence of the importance of this site in the trade network linking the Aegean to the northern Adriatic.

The 2010 campaign took place between the 4th October and 14th December. The exploration looked at the north-western sector of the settlement, in particular the area on the northern edge of the proto-historic fortifications, where a new trench was laid out (SAS XX), covering about 350 m2. In this stretch the Bronze Age walls were interrupted by 15th century A.D. structures and ditches and disturbed by trenches and redoubts from the Second World War, as well as tree planting undertaken by the Forestry Corps in the 1950s. As the campaign’s main aim was the study of the proto-historic fortifications, the investigations concentrated on the defensive structures relating to the earliest construction phases, attributable to the middle Bronze Age 2-3. Among the most important discoveries was an E-shaped fifth postern gate, and a section of ditch along the external front which, as in the other sections exposed, was interrupted by a rock bridge in correspondence with the exit from the postern. Both the postern and the ditch were filled by collapsed material from the structure above. Along the inner side, at the base of the earliest wall, a small area of a deep deposit was excavated. This contained ash, charcoal, impasto pottery (attributable to BM3), Minoan pottery, abundant animal bones and several large wooden structures, which were consolidated and covered with roofing prior to excavation next season. Several dry-stone built structures rested on the deposit, abutting the earliest wall; their function is still unclear and will be clarified by further investigation. As well as numerous plans, a complete east-west section of the fortifications at the north edge was documented.

The excavations concentrated on the north-western sector of the settlement, in trenches XX and IX, investigating the external front of the middle Bronze Age fortifications, between the monumental gate and postern gate A, and several late and final Bronze Age occupation levels in the so-called cult area. In the section of fortifications that were excavated, the walls were only preserved to a height of a few tens of centimeters. The area was divided into four sectors and the crests of the walls and collapses were carefully cleaned. The latter were partially removed after being recorded. A series of zenital photographs were taken in order to form a photo-mosaic, which having been corrected on the computer will form the base for the georeferenced recording. Immediately south of postern A, in addition to a substantial collapse of mainly slab-like stones, abutting the exterior front, a quadrangular base was uncovered, probably part of a small tower that protected the gate. The remains of a similar base, apparently belonging to a second tower, were identified at the opposite end of the excavated stretch of wall, on the north side of the monumental gate in correspondence with the corridor of orthostats. These structures show that the middle Bronze Age defences were far more complex than first thought. Occasional fragments of middle Bronze 3 impasto pottery were found among the collapses. A small trench was opened in sector 1, immediately south of postern gate A, in order to check whether it presented the same arrangement to the exterior as was seen for posterns C, D, and E, with the ditch that parted from the south beyond the rock-cut bridge in front of the entrance. Following the partial removal of the collapses filling the ditch, it was seen that in this section it did not terminated with an even wall, but a rough ramp, probably related to construction activities. This element suggests that the ditch was not completed when the settlement was destroyed by the fire that also caused the fortifications to collapse. The brief exposure to the weather could explain the fact that the marks left by the tools used to dig the ditch were still clearly visible on its walls, which is otherwise difficult to explain given that calcarenite is highly degradable. In Trench IX work took place on the eastern edge of the Final Bronze Age 2 ‘temple hut’. Several postholes were identified and excavated, and added to the plan of the structure. The final patches of the burning overlying the beaten earth floor were removed. This produced several impasto fragments and the base of a large coarse ware _dolia_ with cordon decoration. Several soil samples were collected which contained carbonized seeds and microfauna. Excavation continued of a baulk left last season below the walls of a late medieval structure (removed) in order to reach the large beaten floor that marks the urban reorganization of this area of the settlement in the Recent Bronze 2. At the end of the campaign, ten days were dedicated to restoration and protection.

This season’s excavations were concentrated in the south-western sector of the settlement, in SAS VI, where two distinct campaigns in 1994 and 1994 had uncovered several rooms belonging to late medieval buildings situated at the sides of the road crossing the settlement from north to south. Numerous sunken grain silos opened along the road, some of which still preserved the original stone covers _in_ _situ_. The remains of a medieval quadrangular tower were uncovered in the same area, pre-dating the settlement, and a quadrangular well of proto-Hellenistic date, of which the wellhead of worked stone blocks was more or less intact. During the same campaigns, the proto-historic occupation levels were reached in this sector and several surviving patches of a large Final Bronze 2 structure, denominated hut-storeroom for the presence inside it of numerous terracotta cordoned _dolia_. Recent gas-chromatography analysis showed that these large containers were used to store olive oil. This area was chosen for excavation because Melendugno town council intends to carry out a series of intervention to protect, restore, and enhance the site. The planned interventions include restoration of the floor and road surfaces of the late medieval settlement at their original levels in order to prevent further erosion and undermining below the wall foundations, which would cause their collapse. Therefore, the investigation and removal of the proto-historic occupation levels still _in_ _situ_ on top of the limestone bedrock was considered an urgent requirement. The excavations exposed several post-holes, both circular and quadrangular, which added to the plan of the hut-storeroom. A large amount of pottery was recovered belonging to the occupation phase of this structure. A particular concentration was found inside a rectangular pit cut into the floor surface.

This season it was impossible to carry out the planned excavations as work was being undertaken on the site as part of the project to restore, conserve, and enhance the archaeological area of Roca Vecchia with a view to opening the site to the public. The presence of the conservators, workmen, and their equipment affected the safe access to the site for the students taking part in the campaign, whose mobility and work was limited. The students were therefore mainly involved in assisting in surveying and helping to clean the structures to be restored and the exposed layers that were to be covered and protected prior to the restoration of the floors of the late medieval buildings. The project itself, although principally concentrating on the restoration of the walls and enhancement of the site, also foresees some limited excavation. This will take place in the coming months at the monumental gate of the middle Bronze Age fortifications, the so-called ‘Temple hut’ of the final Bronze Age, and a late medieval church building and associated burials in the eastern sector of the peninsula.

The excavations and topographical survey were undertaken as part of the ‘Restauro conservativo, valorizzazione e fruizione dell’area archeologica di Roca Vecchia’ project. The work concentrated on the following areas: SAS 1, the monumental gate of the Bronze Age fortifications (the object of investigations since 1992). Here three distinct phases were identified (Middle, Recent and Final Bronze Age), each with a different internal layout, different construction technique and gradual rise in the floor level. This large passageway crosses the fortifications to a depth of over 20 m. The terminal part of the entrance to the settlement and one of the interior rooms (north room) remain to be excavated. In 2017, the stones and soil from the collapses in this area were completely removed reaching the floor surface: Among the finds was an almost complete adult skeleton. This is the second piece of anthropological evidence found inside the gate relating to the military event that culminated with a siege and the destruction of the settlement by fire in the middle Bronze Age 3. In the north room, the collapses were removed down to 30-40 cm above the floor level. SAS IX. In this area, situated in the north-western quarter of the settlement stood the so-called hut-temple dating to the Final Bronze Age. This was an enormous structure, over 40 m long and 15 m wide, divided into aisles, and situated between two wide roads paved with thick layers of stones and animal bones. This building has been completely excavated during the course of about ten campaigns. Numerous furnishings were found inside and the fragments of several terracotta cooking stands and impasto pottery that had remained _in_ _situ_ were recovered. SAS XII. During past campaigns, several underground chambers and a large structure identified as a late medieval church (Greek ritual) were investigated in this eastern sector of the Roca peninsula. The floors, part of the walls, the iconostasis, a podium (on which there could have been an altar or throne) and stone benches resting on shaped pillars survive. During this campaign, the remains of this building were cleaned and some of the associated rooms were partly excavated in addition to several multiple burials in graves under the floor. Numerous fragments of painted plaster were recovered. The building’s function seemed to be confirmed by the discovery of a Eucharistic stamp/mould in the fill of a nearby well.