The Fondo Maura corresponds with a large section of the northern part of the modern town of Vaste. In the past, rescue excavations have uncovered various archaeological finds in this zone. In 1914, an archaic tomb was discovered which contained a pottery assemblage including a banded krater, a Messapian jug, two _kylikes_, two _lekythoi_, two one-handled cups, a miniature vase and a _lekane_. In 1954 two other tombs were found. In the 1980s, a structure of stone blocks and kilns with elliptical firing chambers were uncovered, attesting the use of this area as an artisans’ quarter in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Occupation levels dating to between the 8th to 6th century B.C. were also found. In the 1990s, investigations were undertaken in trenches destined for sewer piping. In particular, a road was intercepted in the southern stretch of the via SS. Stefani, running on the same alignment as the modern road. The ancient road was also seen during excavations in via E. Toti, and had undergone numerous repairs between the archaic and late Roman periods. The earliest road surface can be dated to between the second half of the 6th and the beginning of the 5th century B.C. The beaten surface dating to the 4th to 3rd century B.C. contained residual material including Attic pottery from the second quarter of the 5th century B.C.