Digging of a deep trench for the planting of a vineyard uncovered fragments of brick and transport amphora dating to about the 1st century B.C.
No archaeological evidence had previously been registered in the area, thus an emergency excavation was undertaken in order to evaluate the nature of the archaeological remains and their compatability with the proposed change in land use. The surface layers, already disturbed by the trench, were removed using a small mechanical digger under the supervision of an archaeologist.
Eight excavation trenches were opened, only two of which revealed the presence of structures. Both contained two long, cobble foundations, one was followed for 16m, the other for over 53m. These foundations are intersected by two small drainage channels, largely made from cobbles placed on edge and closed by other cobbles. In the first trench the channel was followed for 18m, in the second for 38m. The occupation level relating to these structures has been completely destroyed by deep-ploughing.
These foundations are probably part of an enclosure and it is possible that they form a land division, bearing in mind that the present day field divisions still mirror the layout, covering a wide area of Spoleto’s territory, which dates back to the time of the Roman colony of Spoletium.
The enclosure structures, orientated NW/SE, are more or less parallel, the distance between them varying from 30 to 32cm. The orientation of the channels, similar in both trenches, is dictated by the slope of the terrain. (Liliana Costamagna)