Between the 10th and 21st October 2011, the fifth excavation campaign took place in the locality of Monte Bono (Guardistallo, Pisa).
Trench I was extended to the west in order to check the continuity of US 13 2010 visible in section. The continuity was documented of the layers identified in previous campaigns, both those formed as a result of the destruction of the ancient structures and those relating to the alteration of the archaeological deposit by agricultural activitiy.

Following the cleaning of the trench, the US 7, 8, 10 and 16 were removed, revealing US 13, present across the entire trench and containing pottery and tile/brick fragments and large to medium sized stones. The layer was present at different depths, more superficial in the eastern sector, and was very thick in the central and western sectors. The removal of US 13 will be completed in the next campaign.

For operative reasons it was decided to continue the excavation of the sondage (1.50 × 1.50 m), opened in the central sector of the trench where, in 2010, US 17 had been exposed below US 13. This layer had a compact sandy-clay matrix, yellowish-green in colour, containing occasional fragments of amphora and coarse pottery which had probably filtered down from US 13 above.

The data from the 2011 excavations confirmed the site’s dating to between the late Republican period (latest attestations of black gloss ware, fragments of Dressel I amphora) and 80 A.D. (presence of a FORTIS stamp on the bottom of a lamp, absence of ARS A and late decorated Italian sigillata).

The layout of the structure below the accumulation of material (US 13), characterised by its thickness (up to 30 cm in the central area) and an abundance of archaeological material (tiles, imbrices, pottery of all classes – table, cooking and storage wares etc. – amphora and dolia), remains uncertain.

The main structure must have been used for storage (at least 8 dolia were found), and also have been residential/productive in function (numerous fragments of coarse wares and cooking wares as well as at least 10 loom weights). The limited size of the deposit (7 m NS x 9 m EW), may suggest that this was a two storey building, the lower floor used for storage and the upper for residential purposes.