The 2003 excavation identified 15 burials dating to the 18th century, several dry-stone walls forming an enclosure around the cemetery area, several stone squared blocks from the podium of a Roman building and part of a large hole, interpreted as a limekiln which was probably in use during the restoration of the church of S. Marco in the 18th century. Investigations near the tower revealed the remains of a rectangular structure, built with roughly worked medium sized stones placed in sub-horizontal courses.

The 2004 excavation aimed to clarify the function of the structure, constructed directly on a bank of compact loam used as a supporting base, on which the façade of S. Marco stands. The complete emptying of the limekiln and the removal of the burials revealed that the squared blocks found along the west wall of the limekiln were part of a building of Roman date and were structurally linked to the other blocks found near the burials below the church wall. The cemetery area next to the church was almost completely excavated and its use runs from the 12th-13th centuries to the 18th century. Skeletal remains were found in single burials (in earth graves without wooden coffins and on three different alignments), multiple burials (both in earth graves and masonry built tombs) and in two ossuaries. The multiple burials probably contained individuals from the same family, as can be inferred from the position of the bodies which underline the relationships between the individuals. The grave goods comprised metal objects relating to the deceased’s clothing (belt buckles, buttonholes, eyelets for laces, rings and earrings). Various finds not strictly linked to the burials were recovered, dating from the late Roman period up to the last century. Moreover, 7 coins belonging to a small hoard were found, 6 of which were silver and illegible and one well preserved gold solidus dating to between the second and third decade of 6 A.D. One face bears the icon of the emperor Justinian identifiable by the legend “DNIVSTINIANVS.PP”, the other side shows an image of winged Victory and Christian symbols and the legend“VICTORI.AVGGG.A.CONOB”.

The archaeological site of Piana S. Marco is situated within the national park of Gran Sasso and the Monti della Laga. The area is characterised by a continuity of occupation attested by the Italic settlement of Colle della Battaglia, the remains of an imperial villa or _pagus_ and the necropolis of Monte Piasatro. The investigation looked at the area of the monastery, attested for the first time in a bulla of Pasquale II of 1112, but probably dating to the 9th century, when Marcianisci is first mentioned as being under the control of San Vincenzo. The areas examined were situated next to the southern perimeter of the church of S. Marco (Sect. I), next to the southern and eastern perimeters of the tower (Sect. II-IV), between the tower and the church of S. Marco (Sect. III), in the south-eastern interior corner of the church of S. Marco, partially including the area spanned by the door (Sect. V), in the north-western corner of the internal space between the church and sect. III used in recent times as a dwelling (Sect. VI). The occupation phases attested at the base of the _podium_ of an imperial temple, consist of walls which reused materials dating to the period of the Graeco-Gothic war (mid 6th century), a reinforcement of the temple now identified as the _Capitolium_ during the Byzantine fortification, a 6th century mud hut and a hoard consisting of six silver coins and a solid gold aureus of Justinian in a very good state of preservation. The site of the hoard find, a cavity in a wall, and the date of the main coin (mid 6th century) suggests that it was hidden during one of the Ostragoth invasions. In sector I an _opus signinum_ floor was uncovered which overlay a make up of imbrices placed edgeways up. The floor rested directly on several large limestone ashlar blocks belonging to the temple. A cemetery was created around the small church, in the medieval and post-medieval periods, with “a cassone” burials, multiple burials and earth grave burials. During the 18th century the cemetery was cut by a large limekiln with a circular base and _praefurnium_, used during the restoration of the church. The western half of the limekiln had eroded the temple _podium_ whose remains were probably used to produce lime. Sector IV of the excavation produced a large quantity of pottery datable to between the 5th and the end of the 6th century A.D. In zone E of this sector the layers of fill were removed from a large pit (containing material datable up until the 19th century), covered by a beaten mortar surface. This was interpreted as the result of an unsuccessful attempt (19th century) at robbing the blocks, as attested by a number of blocks that were still in _situ_. The excavation of the robber trench brought to light the lower courses of blocks of the temple. The investigations undertaken in June-July 2007 involved sector I, exploring the limekiln’s _preafurnium_, and sector II with the identification of a burial in an earth grave on a north-south alignment. In sector II a mud wall with a stone footing belonging to a rectangular room was uncovered, dating to the Byzantine occupation of the site. A layer of earth and small cobbles to the south of the tower may relate to a cobbled surface, probably in phase with the mud-built structure. Amongst the materials found were fragments of late antique pottery, shoe buckles and glass fragments.

L’indagine ha interessato l’area adiacente al perimetrale Sud della chiesa di S. Marco (Sett. I), quella adiacente ai perimetrali Sud ed Est della torre (Sett. II-IV); l’area situata tra la torre e la chiesa di S. Marco (Sett. III); l’area sita nell’angolo Sud-Est all’interno della chiesa di S. Marco, parzialmente comprensiva dell’ingombro della porta di ingresso (Sett. V); l’area sita nell’angolo Nord-Ovest dell’ambiente interno collocato tra la chiesa e il sett. III e adibito in tempi recenti ad abitazione (Sett. VI). Le fasi di vita sono costituite dal basamento del podio di un tempio di età imperiale, da muri che utilizzano materiali di recupero riferibili al periodo della guerra greco-gotica (metà VI secolo) e a un rafforzamento del tempio ora detto con destinazione a Capitolium della fortificazione bizantina, da una capanna di terra di VI secolo e da un ripostiglio monetale costituito da sei monete argentee e da un solido aureo di Giustiniano in ottimo stato di conservazione. Il luogo del rinvenimento del gruzzolo, una cavità nelle pertinenze di una struttura muraria e l’epoca alta della moneta principale (metà del VI secolo) inducono a ritenere che l’occultazione del tesoretto possa coincidere con una delle incursioni ostrogote. Nel settore I è stata rinvenuta una pavimentazione in cocciopesto estesa su una preparazione costituita da frammenti di coppi disposti a coltello. Il pavimento si appoggia direttamente sopra alcuni grossi conci di pietra calcarea appartenenti alle strutture del tempio. Intorno alla chiesetta, in età medievale e postmedievale fu realizzato un cimitero con sepolture “a cassone”, multiple e in fossa terragna. Nel corso del XVIII secolo, il cimitero fu intaccato da una grande calcara con base circolare e prefurnio, funzionale ai restauri dell’edificio religioso. La calcara, nella metà ovest ha eroso il podio del tempio i cui resti, probabilmente furono utilizzati per la produzione della calce. Lo scavo del settore IV ha restituito molto materiale ceramico databile tra V e fine VI secolo d.C. Nella parte E del settore sono stati rimossi i livelli di riempimento di una grossa fossa (all’interno materiali databili fino al XIX sec.), coperta da un battuto di malta, interpretata come azione (XIX secolo) di spoliazione dei blocchi, non portata a termine, come dimostrano alcuni blocchi ancora in situ. Con lo scavo della trincea di spoliazione sono stati messi in luce i filari di blocchi inferiori del tempio.

The excavation investigated the interior of the church of S. Marco (Sect. V), continuing those of 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2009, In chronological order the structures and stratigraphy found consisted of a stone block, belonging to the _podium_ of the cult building of Classical date, a local limestone column base from the portico next to the temple, a wall (partially investigated during previous seasons) which, in the light of new discoveries can be dated to the late antique period, two distinct successive cemetery phases and two pillar bases relating to late medieval interventions in the cult building. The 18th century is the _terminus ante quem_ for all the layers, as they were covered by the plastering undertaken in that period as part of the penultimate restoration of the church. The _terminus post quem_ is constituted by ashlar blocks of Classical date, on which the church’s southern perimeter wall was built, obliterated by the excavated stratigraphy. The area was also used as a cemetery. Seventeen burials were found, datable on the basis of the taphonomic analyses and the stratigraphy to two phases: late medieval characterised by earth graves; Romanesque by burials both in simple earth graves and stone-lined graves. The most interesting historical-archaeological acquisition was the identification of a Byzantine (6th-7th century) phase, attested by a hoard containing a gold solidus of Justinian, a further six silver coins and pottery of coeval date, as well as walls datable to the same phase. This evidence suggests a Byzantine presence on the site of Piana San Marco, a hypothesis confirmed by the latest finds. These comprises a stone wall, on which the present church’s facade was built, and finds datable to the 6th-7th century. These included various fragments of “Crecchio” type pottery, cooking jars, small amphorae and two small jugs, as well as sporadic fragments of ARS. Among the glass finds, a disc foot and wall fragment from a goblet, and several rims from cups and a hanging lamp characteristic of the 6th-7th century.

This excavation documented the continuity of the stratigraphy between sector I and sector V, confirming that the site was occupied in the late antique and early medieval periods. In Sector I, two clayey layers were identified, containing pottery dating to the late antique period. These layers were cut by three circular postholes, an “a cassone” burial, its walls and cover made of large, squared limestone blocks and the foundation trench for the wall on which the facade of the medieval church was built (identified in a previous campaign). At a right angle to this wall, and partially covered by the church’s southern perimeter, there was a structure constituted by medium to large stones. This was the inner edge of a tomb, which based on stratigraphic and typological analogies with the stone-lined burials found in 2010, dated to the 12th-13th century. The _terminus ante quem_ for the levels investigated in Sector V is the 12th century, as they pre-dated the tombs mentioned above. A sequence of layers, with a clay or sandy-silt matrix were excavated which contained occupation evidence dating to the 6th-7th century. A large quantity of pottery and smaller number of glass finds and faunal remains were recovered. A circular posthole, the only burial found (single inhumation in an earth grave, in primary deposition) and the wall mentioned above, interpretable as a foundation built up against the terrain by removing part of the late antique stratigraphy, all dated to an immediately successive period. The foundation obliterated a mortar surface showing impressions left by ashlar blocks, attesting the robbing of the classical structures, and a makeup constituted by abundant large lumps of mortar in a makeup of medium to small stones and numerous stone chippings, probably used to level the uneven terrain. The excavation aimed to define the chronology and function of the pre-existing wall on which the façade of the medieval church was built. This was used as the northern perimeter of the Romanesque open-air cemetery (12th-13th century). The new excavation dated its construction to within a wide chronological span between the 7th and 12th century. The absence of layers datable to the period between the 8th and 11th century, presumably due to the levelling of the site during the Norman re-foundation, made it impossible to better define the chronology.

The 2012 campaign excavated inside the church of S. Marco (sector V) and the external area adjacent to its southern perimeter (Sector I), continuing the work undertaken in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011. The continuity of the stratigraphy between the two areas was documented and occupation of the site in the late antique and early medieval periods was confirmed. In sector I, three circular cuts of differing diameters (36, 28 and 24 cm) containing layers with a humus matrix were exposed. Aligned north to south, they can be interpreted as post holes for three timber posts supporting a roof or a walkway abutting the curtain wall (USM 14) of a 6th-7th century enclosure. The removal of a layer of tile and plaster revealed a trapezoidal stone that formed the cover for a burial underneath the southern perimeter wall of the church and continuing beyond it. A large cut was interpreted as a foundation trench for the Roman temple found during previous campaigns. Twelve burials in earth graves on a south-west/north-east alignment and datable to the early medieval period were identified in sector V. The removal of the layer in which the graves were cut exposed a compact level comprising layers of earth mixed with abundant large mortar lumps, make ups of small stones and stone chippings, interpreted as a levelling intervention on unstable or rough terrain, undertaken no later than the 7th century. On top of this stood the wall that was reused as the foundation for the façade of the present church. A circular hole in the centre of the excavation area can be related to this phase. Its sides were faced with a layer of mortar mixed with gravel and brick/tile fragments, and it would have house a post of about 70 cm in diameter. The removal of the levelling exposed the burial with stone covering described above. The analysis of the stratigraphic sequence and finds dated these layers to the Byzantine period, characterized by the construction of an imposing wall without foundations, built on top of the levelling, in phase with the post holes and the reuse of classical architectural elements (column drums, architectural fragments). A tank made of Roman Corinthian -_tegulae_, bedded in an _opus signinum_ make up dates to an earlier period. In phase with the tank was a semicircular cut situated in the southern part of the sector, which continued beyond the excavation’s western edge, interpreted as the temple foundation described above.

The site of Piana S. Marco is situated within the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga Park, in an area characterised by a continuity of occupation attested by the Italic settlement of Colle della Battaglia, the necropolis of Monte Pisatro, the remains of an imperial villa and evidence of substantial Byzantine restructuring. This season’s excavations aimed to answer some questions of crucial importance for the relative and absolute chronologies of the site, first among them the dating of the present chapel of San Marco, which were not clarified during the previous campaigns (2003-2012). A new excavation area (area 7) was opened in correspondence with the north-eastern corner of the chapel, 2 x 3 m on the north side and 4 x 1.5 m on the east side (façade). The stratigraphy dated to between the present day and the full medieval period. Areas of activity relating to the abandonment, use, and construction of the modern churchyard around the chapel of San Marco, as were traces of the building site for the present façade and the north wall of the modern-Renaissance church, and finds attesting medieval occupation. Further investigations were made in the area at the south-east end of the site (area 8), which was extended in correspondence with a space last used as an ossuary. This rectangular room, on a north-south alignment, was identified during previous campaigns but not fully excavated. The area was extended in order to remove the layers of abandonment material thrown into a limekiln dating to the 16th-17th century, identified to the south of a first limekiln excavated in previous seasons. Lastly, area 9 was opened, where the NE-SW continuation of a wall enclosing the entire monastic complex on the south side was identified. The wall in question, of which 15 m were uncovered, presented various construction phases, the earliest reusing limestone column drums. These were part of a classical temple that was partially investigated during previous campaigns. Fabio Redi, Università degli Studi dell’Aquila Valeria Amoretti, Università degli Studi dell’Aquila Daniela Lallone, Università degli Studi dell’Aquila Roberto Montagnetti, Università degli Studi dell’Aquila Paolo Rosati, Università degli Studi dell’Aquila

The excavations, begun in 2003, aimed to check the relationship of the early medieval and medieval settlement of Piana San Marco with the Roman and Italic sites in the area and acquire information regarding the nature of the first monastic nucleus and the successive structural transformations, in addition to defining the site’s chronology and topography. The 2016 excavations had two main objectives: 1. To define the chronological phases of the church of San Marco and investigate a wall that was identified in the north-west corner of the church during previous excavations. The structure is constituted by several limestone blocks jutting out of the section forming the edge of the excavation area (USM 1186) and a floor surface of large tiles (USM 1283), in both cases reused materials from the adjacent Italic-Roman temple (fig. 1); 2. The reconstruction of the line of the settlement’s perimeter wall, which was partially excavated and exposed during previous campaigns. Therefore, in the first case, excavation was renewed inside the church (Area 5), while in the second case, work continued in the trial trench opened in 2014 outside the church, on the south and south-eastern sides of the complex (Area 9) (fig. 2). A small _sondage_ measuring 3.30 x 2.10 m, a surface area of 6.468 m2, was opened inside the church close to the north-western corner (fig. 3). Here, the stratigraphy suggested that the area underwent substantial structural modifications during the centuries, mainly involving the destruction and removal of the original structures or at least part of them. This would seem to be shown by the razing of wall USM 1186 and the large cut US 1176, which extended along most of the south-west side of the church, but primarily by the installation of two lateral pillars USM 976-977 on which an architrave, no longer existing, was probably mounted. Lastly, the layers filling the cuts and voids left by the removal of the earliest layers and structures provoked a general rise in the floor level on which, in the modern period, the floor relating to the last phase of the church of San Marco as a cult building, was built. As regards the external perimeter wall of the settlement, the 2016 campaign identified the rest of the structure, which runs on an east-west alignment, and documented the fact that at a certain point it turned a 90° corner to the north. This led it to join with the remains of another section of standing wall, which begins at the south-western front of the architectural complex of San Marco (fig. 4). Thanks to this work, it was finally possible to reconstruct the development and line of the settlement’s perimeter wall and to gain a more precise idea of what must have been the limits of the site itself.