The University of Milan has been excavating the “Terramare” site of S. Rosa di Poviglio since 1984, in collaboration with the Archaeological Superintendency of Emilia Romagna, Poviglio town council and Coopsette s.r.l. The excavations are multidisciplinary with contributions from experts in the fields of geoarchaeology, archeometry, archeozoology, anthropology, archaeobotany and geochronology.

From the beginning of the project, it was decided to explore the “Terramare” settlement using open-area excavation, which during the last thirty years, has uncovered over one hectare of the site out of a total of seven. In addition, a funerary area on the edge of the settlement was identified and investigated.

In 2015, work concentrated on a stretch of a large ditch that separated the two groups of dwellings forming the “Terramare” settlement – the Small Village and the Large Village- where the geophysical survey results indicated the existence of a ‘passage’ linking the two villages. The size and central position of this structure appeared to be of importance for the understanding of the site’s urban development. The excavations confirmed the existence of the passage that seemed to have developed over several phases from the late Middle Bronze Age (BM3) until the later part of the Recent Bronze Age (BR2). The rows of large postholes came to light representing the remains of substantial timber structures reinforcing the passageway. In the latest phase, BR2, the posts were abutted by accumulations of soil that connect the edge of the Small Village to the bottom of the ditch. The soil contained a high concentration of bronze fragments indicating the probable proximity of a metalworking area.