Archaeological investigations were undertaken at the Abbey of S. Lucia in Rocca di Cambio (AQ) in 2007 and 2008. The area in front of the church was excavated, where bands of earth of a different colour were visible, indicating the presence of walled structures below ground. The church is known as an abbey but in practice there are no structures in the vicinity to suggest the presence of buildings relating to a monastery, a fact which increased interest in the archaeology of the site. Furthermore, the geographical position of the excavation area has always fuelled the hypothesis that it could be the site on which the ancient oppidum of Frusteniae, an ancient city in the Vestino valley, stood, situated half way between Alba Fucens and ancient Aveia. The excavations exposed four quadrangular rooms situated side by side; three on a north-south alignment, the other to the east. The eastern perimeter wall of the latter continued to the east, beyond the excavation edge, in the direction of the church. The relationship between these structures and the church will be investigated during subsequent campaigns. At present this is not possible due to the need to leave access to the church parallel to the façade. Only a few courses of the walls remained due to the continuous use of the area up to the present day. The latest archaeological traces dated to the 16th century, in particular in room 1. In rooms 2 and 3 occupation levels were not reached, only the stratigraphy obliterating the razing of the walls was investigated. On the basis of a preliminary analysis of the finds, this stratigraphy dated to the 12th century, period in which the structures were probably abandoned. The presence of burials cut into these abandonment layers shows that the site was used after the structures fell into disuse. In fact, seven burials were uncovered (four juveniles and three adults) containing “a stoia” type pottery datable up to the 12th century. One burial contained a pair of “globular” earrings datable to within this chronological range. In room 1 a stretch of wall emerged on an east-west alignment, made of large squared stones bonded with a strong pink mortar. The eastern perimeter wall of room 1 was built on top of this structure, partially using as a foundation. It continued beyond the excavation edge.

The archaeological investigations at the abbey of S. Lucia at Rocca di Cambio (AQ) began in 2007. In 2010 work continued in the space in front of the church, where strips of different coloured earth were visible indicating the presence of walls below ground. There are no structures close to the church suggesting the presence of monastic buildings, a fact which increased the interest in this archaeological research. The excavation uncovered the walls of a number of rooms, of different size, structure and construction. The structures related to each other in various positions through time between the first half of the 13th century, attested by a coin from the Venice mint datable to around 1254, found in the fill of a later bell-pit, and the end of the 14th century, attested by the absence of any pottery later than archaic majolica. The west side of the building complex, datable to the first half of the 13th century, was constituted by a series of adjoining rooms, interpretable as rooms for the monks’ use to the south, kitchens to the north and service rooms and passageways, with the church (the present presbytery of the building still standing) situated along the eastern side. On the basis of typological comparisons with Cistercian and other monastic complexes within the territory and considering the differences due to the orography of the terrain, the north and south sides must have been occupied by productive structures, store-rooms and refectories to the north and by the capitular hall and dormitories to the south. It is not possible at present to state whether the structure had one or more storeys. The bell-making kiln, found abutting the western perimeter, produced important evidence (clay moulds, metallic waste, kiln fragments etc) for the reconstruction of the casting process used by the craftsmen (the so-called “Teofilo” technique) and the characteristics of the artefact produced, a bell with a diameter of 43 cm and a maximum height of 50-60 cm. Following the abandonment and collapse of the monastic complex during the 14th century, perhaps a consequence of the devastating earthquake of 1349 and the crisis of the monasteries in Abruzzo, only the church was restored. It was later transformed into the structure with three naves and large presbytery that stands today. At the same time the northern part of the complex was used as a cemetery, the collapsed material was removed and the ashlar blocks used to surround the burials. To the south the area was occupied by temporary shelters or, in any case for non-religious purposes, as shown by analyses of the numerous archeo-zoological finds. The substantial collapses on the surface, especially in the area to the north, and part of the ruins which were still standing, were probably later removed to be reused as building material. Climactic conditions and the alluvial layers from up the hill situated to the east contributed to the sealing and obliteration of the structures, completely cancelling the traces of the monastery.

In 2011, the excavation at the abbey of S. Lucia at Rocca di Cambio (AQ) continued in the area in front of the church, where differences in soil colour, indicated the presence of walls below. There were no visible structures suggesting the presence of monastery buildings in the church vicinity. The excavation uncovered a number of rooms, differing in size and construction technique. They were built and rebuilt, sometimes on top of each other, at others brokenup and reshuffled,lt between the first half of the 13th century - dated by a silver coin from the Venice mint, datable to around 1254 and found in the fill of a bell-casting pit that post-dates the monastery’s foundation - and the end of the 14th century, dated by the absence of any pottery later than archaic majolica. The restructuring and rebuilding of these rooms meant that over time they overlapped and changed alignment. The western side of the complex, datable to the first half of the 13th century, comprised a series of adjoining rooms, probably those used by the monks to the south, kitchens to the north and service rooms and passageways, with the church (the present presbytery of the existing building) situated along the eastern side. Based on typological comparisons with other granges and monasteries in the territory, and allowing for the adjustments for the orography of the terrain, it can be suggested that the northern perimeter was probably occupied by productive structures, storage facilities and refectories, and the southern perimeter by the chapter house and dormitories. The bell-casting pit found up against the western perimeter produced important evidence (clay moulds, metal waste, kiln fragments etc.) for the reconstruction of the type of casting process used by the artisans (the so-called “Theophilus” technique) and the characteristics of the bell produced: 43 cm in diameter and a maximum height of 50-60 cm. Following the abandonment and collapse of the monastic complex during the 14th century, perhaps as a result of the earthquake in 1349, and the crisis of the granges in the Abruzzo, the church was consolidated and restored. It was later transformed into the structure with three aisles and large presbytery still standing today. At the same time, the northern part of the complex was used as a cemetery, the collapses being removed from the area and the stone blocks used to delimit the tombs. To date 33 single inhumations of men, women and children, have been investigated. The substantial collapses, especially in the northern area, and part of the standing ruins, were probably removed and reused as construction material. Finally, the weather and the alluvial layers from the hill to the east have contributed to the sealing and obliteration of the structures, removing all traces of the monastic complex.