Little is known of the origins or early occupation of the area where, in the early medieval period, _Equilum_ developed. Recent studies tend to identify the site with a probable Roman _vicus_ that depended on nearby Altino and was situated within the southern agricultural landscape of the town. A more substantial urban development must have followed the Lombard invasions of the Venetian territory in the 7th century, when _Equilum_ became an important stronghold of the “Venetia Marittima” administered by the Byzantines. The site’s importance also lies in its elevation, in the 9th century, to bishop’s see, a title it kept until 1466 and which was suppressed due to worsening environmental conditions, including the swamping of the area. Although the urban centre revealed no traces, the existence of an important religious centre is attested by the presence of the remains of two churches, one dedicated to S. Mauro dating to the 7th-9th century, the other corresponding to the cathedral church of S. Maria, mentioned in a document of 1060. Whilst the first building was covered after the excavation, some stretches of the cathedral’s walls remain visible. This structure, which was still standing at the end of the 1800s, was destroyed during the First World War. Within the central nave, excavations in 1963 and 1969 revealed the remains of an earlier church with basilica plan, characterised by its division into three naves with three semicircular apses and a narthex, all decorated with mosaics. The three naves were separated from the presbytery by railings. The style of the ornamental elements in the mosaic floor is similar to that of the early Christian basilicas of Grado and Parenzo, thus the basilica can be dated to between the end of the 5th and the 6th century A.D. Finds of Roman terracotta artefacts (tegulae with raised edges, sesquipedales), domestic pottery and glass suggest a chronology which runs from the 4th century B.C. to the 8th century A.D. with occasional Renaissance elements. The sporadic presence of flint may indicate a continuity of occupation in an earlier period (Bronze Age?). (MiBAC)

This was the second excavation campaign on the site of “Le Mure” at Jesolo, undertaken by the Department of Humanities – Venice Ca’ Foscari University – School of Medieval Archaeology, directed by Prof. Sauro Gelichi. An area of almost 300 m2 was opened in order to extend the investigation of the late antique settlement of Equilo. Characterised by residential structures built in mixed technique (reused brick base and walls in perishable materials), it can be attributed to the 5th century A.D. based on the evidence of the substantial amount of pottery recovered. As shown in the previous season, these structures were not occupied for very long. This year, two areas with evidence for production activities relating to iron reduction were identified. These activities seemed to coexist partially with the 5th century settlement. In a later phase, the entire area changed completely, in fact, numerous postholes relating to a structure (dwelling?) only built in perishable materials were identified in an artificial dump of very clean sandy-silt. The finds did not provide any certain indication as to the nature of the structures. Unfortunately, the floor surfaces had been removed or were badly damaged by the presence of burials from the 7th-8th century. Indeed, it was possible to extend the excavation and make an in depth study of the cemetery phase in the area. Overall, 35 burials were identified, all in earth graves; adult, sub-adult and infants were present; the latter were sometimes accompanied by bone combs. The _terminus_ _post_ _quem_ for dating the funerary use of the area, which extended across the entire trench, was provided by the _enchytrismòs_ burials (babies buried in amphora), in which the amphora were those in use until the end of the 6th-early 7th century. This cemetery phase can probably be associated with the Early Christian basilica, excavated between 1963 and 1987. Lastly, the identification of a midden and a silo containing pottery datable to the full medieval period (up to the 12th century), which cut into the preceding deposits down to the 5th century phases, attests the presence of structures for food storage, later used as middens and therefore the presence of a structured settlement still existing during the late medieval period. Well-preserved food remains, basket fragments, and pieces of wooden posts were found within these structures, which through specific analyses will provide a large amount of information on the chronology, ancient environment, economy, and diet, further adding to the rich picture of the material culture of the settlement of Equilo at least from the 5th century onwards.

This was the third campaign of excavations on the site of “Le Mure” at Jesolo, carried out by the School of Medieval Archaeology – the University of Cà Foscari, Venice. Three new trenches were opened covering a total surface area of c. 440 m2. Areas 4000 and 5000 were situated immediately south of UTS 3000 and north-east of UTS 1000, while UTS 6000, the largest area, was situated by the path dividing the excavated zone from the remains of the cathedral, and therefore south of the other areas. The first occupation traces, dating to the 7th century A.D., were found in all trenches at c. 40 cm below present ground level. Very little of the early medieval stratigraphy was preserved due to centuries of ploughing, some of which deep. Despite this, nine more burials were uncovered (adults, sub-adults, and infants) to be added to the 35 excavated during previous campaigns. The cemetery area was large and well-organised and the _terminus_ _post_ _quem_ was provided by the _enchytrismòs_ burials in transport amphorae that were in use until the late 6th – early VII centuries. This cemetery phase can be associated with the Early Christian basilica, excavated between 1963 and 1987, and therefore the skeletal remains can be compared with the osteological sample from inside the church. In area 4000 (partially excavated), in addition to the burials two large concentrations of building materials and ceramics were documented, deriving from the abandonment of structures used during the 5th-6th centuries. There was also a well, dating to the late antique occupation, built of reused brick/tile fragments. The fill of the wellhead contained numerous pottery fragments (in particular late antique amphorae and ARS), some fragments of white marble slabs, and a worked stone element, probably a threshold. In area 5000, the most important evidence was a quadrangular vat with a lime-mortar floor (200 x 170 cm), sloping slightly from south-east to north-west, situated in the north-western sector of the excavations. The vat’s morphology, c. 20 cm deep, suggests the presence of a wooden structure that would have rested on top of its walls. At present, there are no parallels for a structure of this type, which can probably be associated with a specific production activity, perhaps a mixer for making the lime itself, used as bonding material in construction on the site. However, the 2015 excavations concentrated on area 6000 where a large building with at least 12 rooms, all of similar size, was uncovered. The building is aligned south-east/north-west, like other residential structures found in other sectors during previous campaigns. Almost all of the rooms had structured hearths, constituted by a rectangular brick platform surrounded by a cordon of brick fragments placed on edge. The commercial function of the settlement was confirmed by the numerous coins found throughout the building. The abandonment and destruction levels showed substantial and widespread evidence of fire. Like the previously investigated late antique structures, the building technique was characterised by the presence of reused brick/tile fragments in the foundations and walls made of perishable materials. However, there was widespread use of worked stone elements, in particularly several large examples used for thresholds arranged along the building’s south-western side. The finds and materials indicate that the building had at least two construction phases, between the 4th and 5th centuries.