In 2009 the Groningen Institute of Archaeology (GIA) conducted archaeological excavations in the sanctuary on the Timpone della Motta in Francavilla Marittima as well as in a nearby supposed Kerameikos area (nominated Area Rovitti). At the Macchiabate necropolis excavations were conducted in collaboration with the Archäologisches Seminar of the University of Basel. The excavations are part of a three-year field program aimed at investigating new contextual aspects of the 8th and 6th century BC periods in the area of the Timpone della Motta and the Macchiabate. Area Macchiabate Through August and September a Swiss team from the Archäologisches Seminar of the University of Basel headed by prof. M. Guggisberg conducted investigations in the Macchiabate necropolis. Initially a geophysical survey was conducted which resulted in the discovery of several new grave clusters throughout the necropolis as well as the localization of a number of individual burials in the area of the “Tomba della Strada”. During the second stage an individual female burial datable to the second half of the 8th century BC was excavated. In addition to many bronze objects the grave contained a wheel-made crater on a high stand, which can probably be ascribed to the group of Oinotrian-Euboean pottery in Francavilla Marittima. In January 2010 a material study campaign was conducted at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale della Sibaritide in order to prepare a preliminary publication of the 2009 excavation on the Macchiabate necropolis. Further excavations are planned for 2010/2011 with the objective of continuing the investigation of the individual burial system on the Macchiabate necropolis.

The necropolis of Macchiabate, in use between the end of the 9th and the 4th century B.C., was excavated between 1963 and 1969 by Paola Zancani Montuoro. About 150 tombs were dug, all being inhumations covered by small piles of stones. Most of the tombs were arranged in groups, forming large tumuli comprising tens of burials, probably belonging to the same family or clan. However, some depositions seemed to be in an isolated position, away from the large tumuli. The most important of these isolated burials was the Strada tomb (Strada 1), one of the earliest in the necropolis, in which an imported Phoenician bronze cup was found. The definition of the relationship between tomb Strada 1 and the rest of the necropolis is at the centre of the University of Basle’s research. To this end, excavations began in the area denominated “Strada”, situated north-west of the tomb of the same name. During the 2010 campaign, a female burial datable to the second half of the 8th century B.C. was excavated. The tomb (Strada 4) was oval in plan (circa 3.2 x 2.6 m), cut into natural, its sides and floor lined with cobbles. The stone fill was partially disturbed but the burial did not appear to have been robbed. The tomb group comprised elements relating to dress (bronze studs, very fragmentary iron fibulae) and personal ornament (over 100 amber beads, bronze double-spiral pendants and spiral finger-rings). Artefacts relating to wool working were also present; at least three spindle whorls and two loom-weights. By the feet were two jars in a well-levigated ware, one undecorated and the other decorated with a “curtain” motif, inside which was a ladle. Several silver-gilt fragments, probably the remains of a cup, were found by the cranium.

During this campaign a large tomb (circa 4.3 x 2.8 m) of a male individual, was found cut into natural and lined with cobbles (Strada 5). Its cobble floor was of great interest as it seemed to be an element common to other tombs in this part of the necropolis. Unfortunately, its state of preservation was compromised by the weight of the stones comprising the fill. The grave goods showed this male to be characterised as a warrior and included a bronze spear point and ferrule, at least one iron spear point, plain common ware jar found by the head and numerous fragments from iron serpentine bow fibulae. In the area between tombs Strada 5 and Strada 1, a number of almost rectangular piles of stones were uncovered, one of which was excavated. The layer of stones (2.2 x 1.4 m) covered a deposition, partially destroyed, on a north-south alignment. The burial (Strada 6) was that of an adult female. The tomb group comprised artefacts relating to dress and personal ornament. The new excavations showed that tomb Strada 1 was not completely isolated within the necropolis. The burials discovered to its north-west were associated by position, alignment and funerary architecture and perhaps formed a group of which tomb Strada 1 was also a part.

The 2012 campaign concluded the investigation of the southern part of the road. To the east of tomb Strada 4 (2010) in intact infant burial was excavated, datable to the 8th century B.C. Tomb Strada 8, was more or less circular and about 2.6 m in diameter, it was cut into sterile terrain and lined with cobbles. At the centre of its floor was a closely packed layer of small cobbles and stones on which lay the deposition and grave goods. This comprised elements of personal ornament, including a pendant in the form of an embracing couple, a bronze serpentine fibula, a small iron knife and four pottery vessels. The pottery group comprised a blackish coarse ware bowl, an almost intact _askos_, a cup, and a wheel-thrown vase all in _ceramic depurata_ (refined clay). At the southern end of the Strada area, two simpler tombs came to light (Strada 7, Strada 9), probably coeval with the others present in this part of the necropolis. They were shallow earth graves, with very few grave goods, covered with large stones forming a rectangular structure.

The 2013 campaign concentrated on the northern sector of the ‘Strada’ area. Here, two intact tombs both aligned SE-NW and dating to the 8th century B.C. were excavated. The first, denominated ‘Strada 11’ was formed by a large oval pit dug into the sterile terrain, 4.8 m long, and 3.2 m wide, lined with flat cobbles. The floor was paved with a thick layer of flat cobbles on which lay the deceased and the grave goods. Only the cranium was preserved, largely covered by small bronze studs and circular laminae decorated with concentric circles in relief, the remains of some sort of headgear. The deceased also wore a bronze pendant made up of a small radiate wheel attached to a long chain. Over one thousand small amber beads, perhaps originally sewn onto fabric, covered the area around the deposition. The grave goods, two jars and a ladle/pourer made of local depurated pottery were placed in the southern part of the tomb. The second tomb, ‘Strada 12’, presented the same construction technique but was smaller, c. 2.6 x 1.9 m. It was rectangular in plan and only the central part of the floor was covered with cobbles. The tomb contained an infant burial (aged c. 4-6 years). Two bronze serpent fibulae, several bronze pendants, and an askos in local depurated pottery had been placed in the grave. The 2013 campaign also concluded the investigation of the structures situated in the southern part of the ‘Strada’ area’, in contact with tomb ‘Strada 9’ (excavated 2012). The structure, ‘Strada 10’, was an _enchytrismos_ burial inside a coarse ware pithos, closed by a large circular stone and placed on its side on a bed of small stones.

The 2014 campaign led to the discovery of five tombs datable to the 8th century B.C. Four were situated in the northern part of the area denominated Strada, where the University of Basle has excavated in previous years. The fifth tomb was found c. 30 m away, at the edge of a cultivated field. Three stone-lined graves, positioned side by side, were uncovered in the Strada area (Strada 13, 14 e 15). The burial of a woman aged between 40 and 60 years (Strada 14) was of particular interest. The skeleton was in a good state of preservation, but the woman had lost all her teeth while alive – clear evidence of the difficult living conditions at the time. Among the grave goods were numerous bronze fibulae (serpentine bow, with shield bow, and of the type with a rectangular ivory or bone plaquette/plate), a bronze disc found on the pelvis, and three vessels made of depurated pottery (jug, cup-ladle, and cup) placed by the feet. Tomb Strada 16 lay to the north of this group. Its dimensions of c. 4.3 x 2.9 m make it a “tomba a fossa monumentale”, a type already well-attested in the Strada area, characterised by an unusual floor of flat cobblestones and border of large rocks. The individual in the grave was perhaps female, among the grave goods were at least three, very badly fragmented, vases in depurated pottery, and several large amber pendants. The fifth tomb (De Leo 1) was discovered by chance. When it came to light during agricultural work, the University of Basle carried out a rescue excavation. In many ways this is an exceptional burial. It was that of a male individual buried together with his symbols of power including an iron axe, numerous bronze serpentine bow fibulae, a thick bronze ring, and bronze pendants. There were at least four vases in depurated pottery, a bronze lamina _mesomphalus_ bowl, and a large bronze basin. The bronze basin and the fragments of a locally made _krater_ with geometric motifs of Greek inspiration are of particular importance. In fact, they are unusual finds that do not fall within the local vase repertoire, and attest the intensity of contacts between the Italic, Greek and near Eastern élites.

This seventh campaign of excavations on the necropolis of Macchiabate at Francavilla Marittima led to the discovery and excavation of six burials situated in two different areas of the cemetery. In addition, a rescue excavation was carried out on the remains of a damaged tomb. _Area Strada_ Two stone-lined earth graves, typical of this area, were excavated at the northern end of this zone. One was the monumental burial of an adult male (Strada 17), the other an infant burial of smaller dimensions (Strada 18). The male tomb was of particular interest: the grave goods included a well-preserved lance point and a short sword, both made of iron. Two iron axe heads of different types were also present together with a rich assemblage of vessel forms, including three in levigated pottery and a bronze lamina cup. The exceptional nature of the finds indicates that the deceased was a warrior and member of the local elite of the period preceding the foundation of the Greek colonies in southern Italy. _Area Est_ During this campaign, the University of Basle began the excavation of a new area with the aim of studying the genesis and development of a tumulus. Numerous tombs were identified in the new zone, including those of at least two infants. The tomb of an adult male containing a large iron grip-tongue sword was of particular interest. The tombs excavated in this area also date to the period preceding the Greek colonisation. _Rescue excavation_ The team from Basle also recovered the remains of a burial damaged by machinery and datable to the 8th century B.C. Among the finds were a terracotta figurine and three bronze pendants each in the shape of an embracing couple. Images of this type are very rare and are interpreted as representations of a pair of divinities. The presence of numerous examples in one tomb is a unique find. _Recording of the burials in the Temparella and Cerchio Reale tumuli_ As part of the project to enhance the archaeological park, the team from the University of Basle undertook new graphic documentation showing the present situation in the cemetery areas denominated Temparella and Cerchio Reale, excavated in the 1960s by P. Zancani Montuoro.

The 8th campaign of excavations at the necropolis of Macchiabate di Francavilla Marittima led to the discovery and investigation of four tombs situated in two different areas of the cemetery. _Area strada_ At the northern end of this zone a grave was excavated, its sides but not the floor lined with stones. This was an infant burial, datable to the 8th century B.C. (Strada 19). _Area East_ Since 2015, the project has concentrated on the eastern burial area. Three tombs were discovered in 2016. Tomb East 5 was that of a woman who had been buried with an exceptionally rich _parure_ of amber and bronze. A great variety of rings, fibulae, decorative discs, beads, and chains decorated her chest. The woman had worn a sort of cap with bronze adornments. A spindle whorl and some small bronze buttons discovered above the cranium attested the presence of textile grave goods that had decayed. The male tomb East 6 was distinguished by the presence of an iron sword. The rest of the tomb group comprised a jug containing a cup-ladle and a bowl with two vertical handles in well-levigated pottery placed at the feet of the deceased. There was at least one iron fibula on the chest. _The third tomb in area East was an infant burial (East 7)_ In addition to the tombs, a slightly curved row of large stones situated west of tomb East 6 was investigated. All the structures were datable to the 8th century B.C.

The ninth campaign of excavations on the necropolis of Macchiabate at Francavilla Marittima led to the discovery and excavation of four burials situated in the Area Est. The tomb Est 8 is a superficial grave with ceramic grave goods composed of a jar and a cup found inside the former. Besides that, a female burial, the tomb Est 9, was found. It contained a rich costume mainly made out of bronze jewelry, very well comparable to the tomb Est 5 that was found in the campaign of 2016. Corresponding the thorax of the deceased were found six fibulae made of bronze and bone, Anhänger, a bronze disc, a choker (Halsreif), an armlet (Armreif) and small pearls made of amber. In the zone southwest of the dead, above his skull were found small bronze pearls and ornaments made of bronze sheets, supposedly belonging to a non-conserved cloth. An exceptional situation was found in the tomb Est 10. It is the grave of two individuals, an adult and a child, situated quasi on top of each other. Equally interesting is the composition of the grave goods: a small terracotta figurine, an iron lancehead, an iron knife and two loom weights. The fourth excavated tomb is a male sepulture with special grave goods, formed by four ceramic vessels, two fibulae, several massive bronze rings, iron objects not yet clearly identifiable and a ribbed bronze bowl. This tomb Est 11 is characterized – like the male tomb Est 6, excavated in 2016 – by an accumulation of stones slightly curved, that restricts a zone of sterile earth. All the tombs are compound by rocks mostly rounded, the floor is without pavement and they are dated in the 8th century BC.

The tenth campaign of the excavations on the necropolis of the Macchiabate in Francavilla Marittima led to the discovery and excavation of two burials situated in the Area Est and two more in the new area called “Collina”. Two graves from the 8th century BC were found in the Area Est. The tomb Est 12 contained the burial of a young woman with a garb made out of bronze jewelry and the usual grave goods of an olla and an attingitoio made out of clay. Besides that, the tomb contained a high number of spindle whorls and at least three loom weights. It is obvious that the buried woman somehow had a connection to the textile production. The tomb Est 13 lies between the tombs Est 11 and Est 12. It contained an olla, three small bronze rings and a piece of iron, presumably from a knife. The little anthropological remains define the buried person as a child between 9 and 12 years of age. In the new Area “Collina” a surface of 12 x 6.5 m was opened and investigated in order to find tomb structures. A lot of vases and sherds – both made of different clays – were found among the many stones without a recognizable grave structure that they could have belonged to. Two burials with ceramic grave goods, both dating to the 6th and 7th century BC, were found in-between. The investigations in the Area “Collina” have confirmed the presence of tombs from the colonial period in that part of the necropolis. For the first time after nearly 50 years, archaic tombs have been found in the Macchiabate-necropolis. Although only two tombs were clearly identified, the high number of ceramic shards spread over nearly the whole surface show an intensive frequentation of this zone in the archaic era. Many tombs seem to have been victims of the pluvial erosion and the post-ancient frequentation of animals and humans. The most commonly found vase so far in the Area “Collina” is the aryballos of the globular type. The other vases can mostly be classified as drinking vessels, e.g. cups and skyphoi.