A third excavation campaign was undertaken as part of Turin University’s (Department of Medieval Archaeology) project researching late antique and medieval archaeology in the territory of the Scrivia Valley. The investigation further defined the life of the settlement, occupied in the late Roman and late antique periods and probably part of the territory of the municipium of Liberna and closely linked to the road network, which from Genoa led to the towns of the lower Piemonte and centres on the plan.

This campaign had two aims: on the one hand the definition of the real extension of the site through the digging of three trial trenches in the western part of the field, three open-area trenches in the southern part and a further enlargement of the excavation area (north-east and south-western corners) bringing the overall surface area to 600 m2. On the other hand, the continuation of the stratigraphic excavation inside Building 2 – only partially investigated, during previous campaigns – in order to gain a better understanding of the chronological, functional, socio-economic, cultural and environmental dynamics of the site.

The data, still being studied, from the deepening of the excavation inside Building 2, which involved the levels of collapse, identified the structure as a warehouse divided into four rooms and built with a masonry footing, wattle walls and a tile roof ( tegulae and imbrices ), with an external canopy. It seemed to relate to Building 3 (dwelling with spaces destined for storage and metalworking activities) occupied between the 4th and 5th century. The presence of imported fine table wares (ARS, also found in the open area situated west of the building) confirmed the hypothesis that this was a farm, perhaps run by a smallholder, which in this period was fully involved in wide-ranging commerce and characterised by a discrete social level.

Analysis of the cereals and carbonised wood found inside the building will provide fundamental evidence for land use and environmental reconstruction. Important evidence emerged from the extension of the excavation area (to the west and east). In the western part, which in late antiquity was an open space with enclosures (perhaps for animals) partially used as a midden, a building (n. 8) and four structures inside pits (perhaps tombs) were exposed. To the east, part of two buildings (n. 6 and 7) were uncovered, heavily cut by modern agricultural activity. The continuation of excavations in 2012 foresees the completion of the stratigraphic sequence in Building 2, excavation of the area to the west and completion of the excavation of the buildings uncovered during this campaign (n. 6, 7 and 8), with the aim of completing the historical, socio-economic, cultural and environmental picture of the site.