Excavations in the locality of Marinelle were undertaken over an area (6 x 13 m) where there was a substantial scatter of archaeological material. The investigations revealed part of a necropolis comprising 18 tombs (only four were excavated) three “a massetto”, one earth grave and ten “a cappuccina” burials, all built with reused material including _tegulae mammatae_ and parts of terracotta columns. Considering the size of the excavated area and the number of tombs identified, the necropolis appeared densely occupied. Preliminary studies date the necropolis to the 4th-6th century A.D. The surface survey produced important archaeological material which suggested the existence of ornate buildings decorated with polychrome mosaics and _pavimenta sectilia_. It may be suggested that this “rich” material can be attributed to an ecclesiastical building with which the find of a fragment of an Early Christian marble funerary inscription can be associated. The inscription (the third of its type found in Molise) dates to between the second half of the 5th and the beginning of the 6th century A.D. An interesting find was a square bronze weight covered with a silver patina, whose circulation began between 300 and 350 A.D. Considering the wear on the silver patina on which the weight was impressed, it may be presumed that its present weight (13.1 g.) is that of half an ounce or three solids (13.5 g.). This does not exclude the possibility that it may correspond to the value of half an ounce following the reduction of the pound to 322 g. which occurred between the 5th and 7th century A.D. Justinian’s edict of 545 A.D. states that “has mensuras et pondera in sanctissima uniuscuisque civitatis ecclesia servari” ( _Corpus Iuris Civilis, Novellae_, CXXVIII, 15), that is the aim was to prevent the tax collectors from using modified weights. The excavation and survey also produced about 70 bronze coins, almost all datable to between the 4th and 6th century A.D. The stratigraphy had been heavily disturbed by ploughing down to the ground level of the necropolis. The construction of a drainage channel at the end of the 19th century cut the excavation area on a diagonal, damaging one of the “a cassone” tombs. Only the bottom of the channel cut was preserved, filled with black loamy silt mixed with lumps of late mosaic from a building of late imperial date that was probably situated up hill from the channel cut.

During this campaign seven of the fourteen tombs still to be explored to were opened. The most interesting burials were those covered by a make-up of reused materials (fragments of inscription, _tegulae_ and imbrices of various types recovered in the area) including a fragment of _tegula_ with a circular stamp mentioning the _gens Tillia_, already known in the area from an important inscription (CIL, IX, 2827) found in the ager of Campomarino. This inscription refers to a dispute between _Tillius Sassius_ and the _municipium_ of _Histonium_ regarding the delimitation of rural landed properties. The text of the stamp, although lacunose, seems to refer to a _Q. Tillius Sassius_, known as _frater Arvalis_ at least from 62-63 A.D. (CIL, VI, 2046 = Dessau 32356), _magister_ of the _collegium_ from 63 A.D. (CIL, VI, 2043) and who died in 91 A.D. The grave goods, being studied at present, all include a lamp of the Firmalampen type, of north Italian production, but much imitated in southern Italy. Among these was an example with the _Cresces_ stamp. On the basis of the preliminary data the burials can be dated to between the mid 2nd century and mid 3rd century A.D.