Past excavations had shown three settlement phases on the hill, situated on the border between the provinces of Pisa and Florence, along the road to Castelfalfi, historically important as the main route linking Valdera Volterrana with Siena, Chiusi and Rome.

The first settlement phase dates to the Roman period, as attested by the presence of an _opus- signinum -lined cistern built on the south side of the hill. Based on typological parallels at Volterra in whose territory the site lies it dates to the 1st century A.D. The cistern is unique in the rural territory of the Valdera and its construction implies the presence of residential structures at the foot of the hill. Given its position, it may be suggested that the Roman settlement had a strategic-commercial function, which would explain the presence of pottery and amphora from throughout the Mediterranean basin.
The cistern fill was constituted by a significant amount of pottery datable to between the late 6th-early 7th century A.D., which had slipped into the cistern and formed a sealed deposit. The analyses of the materials, led to the identification of a Lombard settlement, a strategic-military stronghold for the conquest of the Byzantine territories, which linked to the castellum Faolfi (today Castelfalfi, nearby), controlling the road from Lucca to Chiusi and, obviously, to Rome. The cult of Santa Mustiola, very rare outside of Chiusi, may have reached the site along this road, further proof of the Lombards’ strong impact on this part of the territory.

The written sources and recent archaeological discoveries attest the construction of a church in the 11th century, dedicated to the martyr Mustiola. At present, a number of walls and two cemetery areas have come to light. The earth graves did not contain grave goods except for one female burial found in 2014 along the interior of the church perimeter wall, which contained a finely worked bronze belt and can be dated to the 14th century. It is a type rarely attested in Italy and perhaps unique in the number of elements found.

The 2017 campaign concentrated on the hilltop, with the aim of tracing the church perimeter. The stratigraphy was heavily compromised by roots, erosion, and, above all, robbing that took place until the 20th century. The north area outside the church was investigated. To the east, there was a concentration of burials, even in restricted spaces, without grave goods, probably relating to the last phases of the church (deconsecrated in 1512). To the west, part of a structure was found at the bottom of a cut created during the robbing of the site. The latter’s position and construction technique and materials suggest that it did not relate to the church. It may be a pre-existing structure relating to the Lombard, or even Roman settlement.