The Colle Mazéit overlooks, to the north, the confluence between the valley of the river But and that of the Tagliamento. The tower (excavated in 1989-1990 and 2000-2005), built on the summit of the hill in the 6th century A.D. and destroyed by a fire between 1150 and 1270 (C14 dating), controlled the surrounding territory. The investigations in 2005 revealed a Roman wall of imperial date and a room covered by a 4th-5th century A.D. level below the 6th century A.D. level. The excavations undertaken south of the tower uncovered a settlement surrounded by a fortified stone wall, which included the tower and several rooms which attest the occupation of an area up against the perimeter wall between the 4th millennium B.C. and the 4th century A.D. The areas investigated were: Area II – a square room of Roman date abutting the south-east corner of the wall, with a chronological sequence running from the 1sr century B.C. to the 4th century A.D.; Area VI – in the direction of the south-east corner of the wall, with complex occupation evidence that date to within the late Neolithic, Recent-final Bronze age, evolved Iron age, the Celtic period, the late Republican and early Imperial periods; Area VII – rectangular room of Roman date built astride the wall and re-used as a cemetery in the 8th-9th century A.D., as attested by a female burial with paleo-slavic type earrings. During the course of the latest excavations, in Area VII, the construction technique of the rectangular room was made clear following the removal of the stretch of fortified perimeter wall within the structure. Moreover, earlier structures emerged outside the room and the related layers produced fragments of pottery of the 6th-4th century B.C. This evidence indicates an interesting development of the Roman and pre-Roman structures towards the west. A project is being drawn up for the consolidation of the structures and valorization of the site. (Maria Gloria Vannacci)

The 2006 excavations saw the continuation of research in Area VII (situated in the area of the eastern entrance to the fortified settlement which developed on the south plateau immediately below the tower). Excavation was extended to both the interior and exterior of a rectangular structure of Roman date, situated across the curtain wall, and all of the curtain wall was exposed between Area Vii and Area II. The tower (Area I) was not excavated in this season as the local administration is shortly to begin work on the consolidation and restoration of the archaeological remains, starting in this area. The excavations in Area VII defined the chronology and construction methods for the rectangular structure, which seemed to have been built in the Augustan period, at the same time as the village was enlarged and reorganised. In fact, Area II (quadrangular structure abutting the south-eastern corner of the curtain wall) and Area VI (paved structure relating to phase IV) were also restructured at this time and the entire enclosure was reinforced. Moreover, the structure positioned across the curtain wall was protected by the construction of another more external curtain, which started in Area II and surrounded the village further to the east. The internal wall of this structure was seen to be the continuation of the pre-Roman enclosure, probably linked to the earlier walls that emerged outside the western side. Pottery dating to circa the 5th century B.C. was recovered from the levels within the structure.

The 2007 excavations on the Colle Mazéit di Verzegnis continued the work in Area VII (see above). In particular work concentrated on the interior of the rectangular structure and the extension to the exterior of the south-western corner of the building and a trench between the south-eastern corner and the curtain wall connecting the room to Area II. Two trenches were excavated during work to position pillars supporting the roofing being put up over the remains. Excavations continued in Area VII on the structure positioned across the curtain wall. The chronology and the construction techniques of the rectangular room were examined: it seems to have been built in the Augustan period, with an enlargement and reorganization of the whole of the village. At the same time Aera II, the square room abutting the southeast corner of the wall, was built, as well as Area VI, a paved room of phase IV, and the whole of the enclosure wall was consolidated. The room which straddles the enclosure wall was also protected by an external wall, which surrounds the village on the eastern side. The internal wall of the room appears to have been a prolongation of the pre-roman wall, probably linked to earlier structures that emerged outside wthe western edge of the building, and from which fragments of Bronze Age pottery were recovered, and much interesting material, including a Fleischgabel, emerged during the removal of the fill from the foundation trench.

The 2008 excavations on the Colle Mazéit di Verzegnis continued research in Area III (situated in the sector of the eastern entrance to the fortified settlement, which developed on the southern plateau immediately below the medieval tower). The excavation area was extended both inside and outside (south-west corner) of the rectangular structure of Roman date (probably a tower, cf. Piazza Belesini a Trento), positioned across the curtain wall built of stones. A trench was also dug between the south-eastern corner and the curtain wall that linked the structure to Area II. The medieval tower (Area I) was not excavated, but a survey was made of the state of the research here as the first lot of consolidation and restoration work on the archaeological remains, relative to the covering of the tower, had been completed. As regards Area VII, the chronology and construction techniques used for the rectangular structure-tower had been defined in 2008. It seems to have been built in the Augustan period at the same time as a reorganisation and enlargement of the entire settlement occurred. In fact, at the same time Area II (quadrangular structure-tower abutting the south-eastern corner of the curtain wall) and Area VI (paved room relating to phase IV) were restructured and the entire enclosure was reinforced. Furthermore, in a period yet to be determined, the structure positioned across the curtain wall was protected by the construction of another, external curtain wall, which started at Area II and surrounded the village to the east. The structures internal wall was seen to be the continuation of the pre-Roman curtain wall, probably linked to the earlier walls which emerged outside the west side of the building, from whose levels Bronze Age pottery was recovered.

The 2010 excavations at Colle Mazéit di Verzegnis continued work in Area VIII (in the eastern entrance area of the fortified settlement on the southern plateau immediately below the tower). The excavation area both inside and outside the Roman structure, situated across the curtain wall, was extended. In particular this year’s work concentrated on the completion of excavations inside the rectangular room. The trenches outside the building were enlarged, both beyond the west side of the room, and beyond the north side, in order to check the continuation of the structural remains excavated between 2005 and 2008. Work also continued outside the south-eastern corner of the room, both close to the south perimeter and the point where it met the curtain wall, and along the eastern perimeter. The medieval tower (Area I) was not excavated this year as work is to continue here on rendering the area visitable (creation of a panoramic walkway, illumination and deforestation). As regards Area VII, the chronology and construction techniques of the rectangular room were confirmed. It seems to have been built in the Augustan period, at the same time as the entire village was reorganised. In fact, Area II (quadrangular room-tower abutting south-east corner of curtain wall) and Area VI (paved room relating to phase IV) were restructured at the same time. Inside the structure lying across the curtain wall an interesting drainage channel was excavated. The internal wall of this structure was seen to be the continuation of the pre-Roman curtain wall, probably linked to the earlier walled structures to the west of the rectangular room and cut by the building of the latter, whose levels produced fragments of Bronze Age pottery. This year the internal curtain wall was completely uncovered. It had been reinforced by a make up, whilst to the west and north beyond the sides of the room, where the earlier curtain wall had already emerged, new walls came to light which seemed to belong to residential structures. Late Republican and early imperial material, disturbed by the various alterations, were found in the surface layers. The latter also produced a stone axe-hammer, probably of late Neolithic date, prehistoric pottery, a fragment of a La Tène bracelet in green glass paste (2nd century B.C.) and the tang of an iron spearhead. These finds confirmed the continuation of the settlement already attested by the excavations in Area VI. Work is soon to begin on roofing-over Area VII.

Excavations continued in Area VII, occupied by the Roman rectangular building/tower straddling the curtain wall, in the area of the eastern entrance to the fortified settlement, which developed on the southern plateau immediately below the medieval tower. As investigations inside the room were complete, the excavations concentrated on the extensions to the west of the structure’s west wall (USM 3009) and north of wall USM 3023, cut for the construction of the room spanning the curtain wall. Continuous occupation from the Bronze Age onwards and the restructuring of the village in the Augustan period, confirmed by an Augustan coin, was documented in the western extension. To the north of wall USM 3023, the excavation continued of new walls running perpendicular to the latter, which seemed to relate to residential rooms predating the Augustan restructuring. In spring 2012 work for the recovery and enhancement of this area, with the construction of a roof and consolidation of the structures, will begin. In Area II (Roman quadrangular tower, abutting the south-eastern corner of the curtain wall) work was limited to a survey and overview of the state of the investigation and the cleaning up of the entire area. The site of Colle Mazéit was part of the “Percorso delle Pievi e del Siti Archeologici” Project, an itinerary of proposed visits to ancient parish churches and nearby archaeological areas which took place between June and September 2011, organised by seven municipalities in the Carnia region. This area saw several occupation phases, between the 2nd-1st century B.C. and the 4th century A.D. The stone curtain wall between Area II and Area VII was also cleaned. Area VI was reopened. This was situated along the south-western edge of the stone curtain wall at the point reached by the old road which from the foot of the Colle Mazèit went to the medieval tower. The entire area was cleared of trees in order to make it visitable. A row of postholes and cuts in the bedrock relating to probable proto-historic dwellings were excavated. These features had been identified in 2004 and 2005 in the eastern part of the area, where the earliest archaeological remains had been found. As is known, this area presents complex and very interesting occupation evidence, datable to the late Neolithic period (3600-3400 B.C.), the recent/final Bronze Age (14th-10th century B.C.), the full Iron Age (4th-5th century B.C.), the Celtic and late Republican period and the early and mid-imperial period. The exposure of a stone-paved room, relating to the Roman phase IV, the general restructuring of the village, was completed.