The aims of the sixth excavation campaign on the late antique villa of Aiano-Torraccia di Chiusi were as follows: 1. Extension of the excavation area to the north of the tri-apsidal hall; 2. Completion of the excavation of the kiln in room F; 3. Continuation of excavations in the southern sector of the villa; 4. Opening of excavations in the west corridor; 5. Continuation of the study of the wall stratigraphy.
This year’s excavations brought the total area covered to 1,500 m2 compared to the villa’s extension, documented by geophysical survey, of 10,000 m2. 1. The extension of the excavation area to the north of the portion investigated during the last campaigns revealed more walls delimiting a large room of which only the south-eastern corner was excavated. This was a large space, with pillars circa one metre wide supporting the roof, of which about one quarter of the surface area was intercepted. Its function remains unknown. The difficulty in proceeding with the excavation in the north of the excavation area was caused by the depth of the archaeological deposit, circa 2 m below present ground level. In fact, the walls were often preserved to a height of 1.8 m, although all the floors had been removed. 2. Excavation of the sub-rectangular kiln found in 2007 was completed. The structure was well- preserved below the perforated firing floor. The heavy reddening of the surrounding terrain and the walls of the combustion chamber indicate that the structure was in use for a long period. However, there was no evidence of the materials it produced, leaving open the question of what class of pottery was made here. 3. The intervention to the south of the great tri-apsidal hall revealed a further three rooms belonging to the southern sector of the villa. To date the excavation has defined the line of the walls: full excavation is programmed for 2011. 4. A new excavation area was opened in the so-called west corridor of the villa. As elsewhere on the site, this revealed the final phase of the villa, datable to the 6th-7th century A.D. This was characterised by a series of traces of craft-working activity comprising oven floors and embedded containers (dolia). It was plastered both internally and externally. The floors and wall decorations had been removed in antiquity. 5. The study of the walls led to the conclusion that the villa showed evidence of diverse construction projects: the earliest one relating to the rooms to the south; a second, later one relating to the north rooms leading towards the tri-apsidal hall. Moreover, it was seen that sometimes the architectural project changed during the construction phase. A small channel, without finishings but structurally complete, was found below the foundations of the villa’s vestibule, thus showing a change of plan, perhaps related to the alterations to the plan of the room with six apses.