From 2006 to 2009 excavations and survey have been carried out on the site of Basto al Campetto, situated on the ridge connecting Montefalcone to Cima Marana. The survey was extended to cover the entire ridge as far as Cima Marana and the ancient roads leading to these high altitude sites. The area between Monte Campetto and Cima Marana was already known in the 19th century as a prehistoric and Roman site. In fact, it has produced finds of coins dating to between the 2nd-4th century A.D., pottery, stone and glass artefacts. Between 1976 and 1978 a series of excavations were undertaken in the area which led to the discovery of an occupation phase datable to the final phases of the Bronze Age, and another to the late Roman period. Some artefacts were also attributed to the Lombard period. A recent revision of the finds has suggested that the site was also occupied during the medieval period (12th-13th century). Between 2005-2007 archaeological material datable both to the Bronze Age, late antique and medieval periods was deposited at the Museo Civico “Dal Lago” di Valdagno. The excavation was undertaken in order to prevent the loss of the remaining evidence relating to the most recent discoveries and the repetition of illegal digging. The aim was also to propose a project to valorise the site for tourism and the environment within the sphere of a mountain environment that is in turn susceptible to a relaunch of the economy and tourism. The project involved specialists from various sectors who dealt with the site’s geology, geomorphology, vegetation and paleo-botany. Radiocarbon and anthracolological analyses were undertaken on some of the structures. The campaigns undertaken between 2006 and 2009 documented various occupation phases. The lithic finds attested the presence of man in the Mousterian, Mesolithic and Copper ages, thus altering the picture, accepted to date, of an occupation that only began in recent prehistory. The numismatic finds extend the length of the Roman presence, attested from the beginning of the 2nd century until the 5th century. The latter data, significantly associated with a road (structure 3), fits in well with the presence of late antique weapons, inducing reflection on the function of control and niche/defence of this outpost on the plain. Lastly, there was a notable concordance between the data from the C14 analysis, the pollen analysis and the artefacts from structure 2, a building used seasonally between the 16th and 17th century in a meadow/pasture, where the seasonal occupation was prolonged and well-organised, given the presence of cereals at high altitude. Structures 1 and 4 could relate to the subsequent impoverishment of the pasture. They certainly pre-date the final phases of the 18th century and were connected to a more flexible and opportunistic exploitation of the mountain, as suggested by the construction details. As regards “Public Archaeology” (Public Archaeology, Community Archaeology, CRM) and “Archaeology for development”) the project has devised an archaeological itinerary (at present being evaluated by the relevant public body) with various innovative and experimental solutions that extends throughout the territory of Recoaro.

The campaign took place between the 5th-16th July. The work in the field was divided into diverse sectors: the excavation of structure 4, partially uncovered in 2008, was completed in order to make it visitable as part of a tourism-cultural itinerary; trenches were dug close to structure 6, excavated in 2009, where the morphology of the terrain suggested anthropological activity. Lastly, a team worked on planning a first visitors trail around the site. Structure 4 was revealed to be of modern date and probably related to seasonal activities exploiting the area of Basto del Campetto. At the end of the excavations a possible reconstruction was proposed although it was preserved in a decidedly residual form, following its probable use for housing the stones removed from surrounding pastures. It must have had a dry-stone built perimeter wall, not much higher than what survives (absence of foundations and small dimensions of the elements constituting the wall) and, therefore, must have had walls and roofing in perishable materials, with a beaten-lime floor. The remains of an external hearth suggest the presence of a roof projecting from the structure’s north wall. A trench was excavated to the north of structure 6, on the plateau between the two mountain pools on the eastern edge overlooking the Agno Valley, in a more or less flat area which seemed to be the result of a manmade intervention (lat. N 45° 39’ 54.5’’; long. E 11° 12’ 36.5’’). The trench was initially 1x1 m and was later extended by two metres to the north and then west. Below a layer attributable to medieval occupation and immediately above the bedrock, was a layer of variable thickness constituted by compact clayey soil with charcoal inclusions, interpretable as an occupation layer. Two possible post holes were present within this layer, in which medium-small stones, as well as waste from flint working, had been fixed as wedges. This evidence may represent the remains of a prehistoric seasonal encampment, which will have to be investigated in the future. During the campaign a group of people worked on a first project for the valorisation of the mountain area between the Rifugio di Montefalcone to Cima Marana. The aim was to create a simple brochure linked to a first short visitors trail, extending from the Rifugio Montefalcone to the second mountain pool. This was to be rendered functional within a short time, at the end of the campaign in time for the tourist season August/September 2110, in response to the requirements of the municipality of Recoaro. The actual project for the creation of the Archeovia di Monte Campetto, is at present being studied in collaboration with the _Comunità Montana Agno-Chiampo_.