There are three fortified settlements situated in the territory of the Forni Savorgnani. In 2004 investigations began on the castello di Sacuidic and in the summer of 2006 the same team began the excavation of what appears to be a late antique castrum. In an area east of the top of the Cuol (924.3 m a.s.l.), a hill situated north of Andrazza, levels containing material datable to the 4th-6th century were uncovered below the _humus_ and substantial layers of dumped material and rubble. The levels covered a square structure, interpreted as a tower, attached to the fortified walls which surround the entire hill top. Fragments of white and red plaster were also found, traces of which were still visible on the internal faces of the extant dividing walls. There was a layer of charcoal both in and outside of the building, probably the remains of a fire involving its wooden structures. Continuation of the excavation will establish the phases relating to the building’s foundation and use.

Four excavation campaigns have been carried out on the fortified site of Cuol di Ciastiel, uncovering about half of the area inside the perimeter wall. The investigation is part of the “Alta Valle del Tagliamento” project, started in Carnia during 2004 by the Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Antichità – Università Ca’ Foscari di Venezia – School of Medieval Archaeology, directed by Prof. Sauro Gelichi. The defensive wall enclosed the hill summit along the entire eastern edge, then gradually sloped down to mid slope on the western side, following the line of the present pathway. The area contained by the fortifications was fairly restricted and characterised by the presence of a series of small towers spaced along the perimeter wall (to date three have been identified) which represent the archaeological contexts with the greater deposit of occupation levels. In fact, the overall stratigraphy of the site was generally shallow. The main occupation evidence was present inside the towers and along the recently investigated glacis at mid point on the south-western hill slope. In each of these contexts clear traces of a fire were found, constituted by a thick layer of charcoal in which the greater number of archaeological finds were preserved. The data provided by an analysis of the pottery, glass and metal finds indicated that occupation was circumscribed to between the 4th-5th century A.D. The structural characteristics of the fortress and the identified archaeological levels suggest that it was occupied by a limited number of people. The most likely hypothesis is that it was a small garrison which enabled a high ranking person to maintain control for financial purposes: collection of taxes or tolls and the transit of goods and people.

The excavations on the site of Cuol di Ciastiel are part of a wider historical-archaeological project, begun in 2005, to analyse settlement in the Upper Tagliamento Valley between the late antique and medieval periods. The project has undertaken excavations on various sites in the municipalities of Forni di Sopra, Forni di Sotto and Ampezzo. In the light of the archaeological data collected and on the basis of comparisons with similar evidence from the peninsula and in neighbouring alpine territories (in particular Slovenia and Austria) an articulated interpretation can be made of this site which, generically, can be considered on of the so-called first generation fortifications. However, it is characterised by a number of distinctive features. In particular, the positioning of this type of site in a marginal area suggests a reconsideration of the importance of a number of secondary roads, which maintained a level of strategic importance in the late imperial period, and on the role of the central government in controlling the economy of the alpine areas. Cuol di Ciastiel differs from other similar sites for the relative simplification of its structures and for the short occupation period between the 4th-5th century A.D. Despite its short period of use a great variety of finds were recovered, in particular imported sigillata, amphorae, glass, bronze and iron elements, including a number of female ornaments, several coins and a substantial quantity of paleo-botanical finds. About two thirds of the area occupied by the _castrum_ have been investigated. As well as the excavation of the archaeological deposits and the finds study, work has begun on the conservation of the excavated structures with the aim of opening the site to the public.

The six excavation campaigns on the fortified site of Col di Castiel have to date uncovered more than half of the area within the curtain wall. The excavations are part of the “Alta Valle del Tagliamento” project in Carnia, begun in 2004 by the Department of Medieval Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities at Ca’Foscari University, Venice, under the direction of Prof. Sauro Gelichi. The curtain wall surrounded the hilltop, running along the entire eastern edge and gradually sloping down along the west side of the hill, along the line of the present footpath. The area enclosed by the fortifications was relatively small and characterised by the presence of a series of small towers along the curtain wall (two have been identified to date), which represent the archaeological contexts with the largest occupation deposits. What appeared to be a third tower was instead revealed to be the fortified structure of the castrum entrance, situated in the south-western corner of the site, where the external curtain wall runs parallel to an inner wall for about 20 m, creating a sort of obligatory passageway leading to the summit. The stratigraphy was generally shallow. Most occupation evidence came from inside the towers, along the terrace present on the south-western hill slope in the recently excavated entrance area. Traces of a fire were found in each of these contexts, constituted by a thick layer of charcoal within which the largest number of finds were preserved. The study of the pottery, glass and metal finds indicated that the site was occupied between the 4th and 5th century A.D. The structural characteristics and the archaeological levels suggested that a small number of people occupied the site. The most reliable theory is that this was a defensive garrison, used by a high- ranking individual for the purpose of levying taxes or tolls for the transit of people and goods.