The teaching of medieval archaeology at Urbino University concentrates on the study of “incastellamento” in the historical sub-region of Montefeltro (Marche, Romagna). In particular, the site of Monte Copiolo remains the only incastellated site in the Marche where extensive investigations have been ongoing for over ten years. The continuation of this work will further calibrate the results of this research, leading to an increasing understanding of the settlement in its entirety. Excavations on surrounding incastellated sites will make it possible to compare the Copiolo model with other contexts present in the sub-region of Montefeltro and thus gain as true a picture as possible of incastellamento in this territory. From the start, we knew that excavating this castle would mean bringing to light the main seat of Montefeltro’s power, as it was the first residence of the counts of Montefeltro (later dukes of Urbino), lords of a vast territory spread between Romagna, Marche and Umbria, with M. Copiolo at its hub. For this and other reasons, it was decided to develop, above all in this context, stratigraphic excavations and, more generally, undertake surveys within the territory. A general analysis of the excavated contexts (2002-2013) at Monte Copiolo produced a diachronic interpretation of the settlement. We believe this settlement follows the model of Toubert, in that it was founded and created by a strong seignieurial power, a lord that concentrated all his forces in this fortification and used it as a base from which to extend and consolidate his seigniorial territory.

This season’s excavations at the castle of Monte Copiolo (PU), undertaken by the School of Medieval Archaeology at Urbino ‘Carlo Bo’ University, concentrated on the area outside the curtain wall by the town gate. Excavation continued in the “complesso della Misericordia” constituted by the ruins of a single-nave church (12th-19th century), later abutted by a structure of equal size interpreted as a hospital-hostel for pilgrims and the poor (13th-14th century). The investigation concentrated on the church interior where seven burials and a small ossuary emerged. Archive documents mentioning the church state that it was demolished between 1830-1834; the building materials were reused for a new church of the Madonna della Misericordia, which today is part of the town of Villagrande di Montecopiolo. All that remains of the ancient church are the tops of the razed walls that form its perimeter. Traces of a fire in the church in the mid 15th century were seen in the stratigraphy, probably relating to the siege of 1448 carried out by Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, lord of Rimini. In the western zone, parallel to the building’s west wall, seven late medieval burials with modest grave goods (mainly beads) were exposed. The first was in a wooden coffin held together by nails, and the individual had a severe cranial deformity. One earth grave covered by sandstone slabs contained two individuals; one presented signs of an operation on the cranium to remove fragments of the skull following a war wound. Calcification showed the individual had survived but then returned to fight and died following a sword blow to the right parietal lobe. There were two individuals in a single grave bordered by a few sandstone slabs, which were also used to cover the burial. Lastly, there was an individual in a coffin formed by sandstone slabs; it was an elderly female who presented signs of an operation on a molar (removal of decay and subsequent filling?) and was buried with a sack, probably that of a pilgrim, as suggested by the buckle found in her right hand. A preliminary date between the late 14th and first twenty years of the 15th century is suggested for the burials, based on the stratigraphy and finds.

This was the 14th campaign of excavations at the castle of Monte Copiolo (PU) carried out by the School of Medieval Archaeology at the University of Urbino, directed by Prof. Anna Lia Ermeti. For the third consecutive year, the investigations concentrated on the remains of a church with a single nave (12th-19th century), latter abutted by a structure of the same size built in the 13th-14th century, interpreted as a hostel for pilgrims and the poor. These structures are known as the “Complesso della Misericordia”. The complex is situated outside the fortifications by the gate leading into them. The church and hostel were fully investigated during previous campaigns, both externally (north, east, and west sides) and internally. The zone outside the church to the south remained to be investigated; formed by a flat area it appeared an ideal site for a cemetery outside the church and immediately adjacent to it. Therefore, a small test trench was opened outside the south wall of the church (Area 9, Trench B, 2015). The area was covered by a layer of humus with an abundance of roots and was surrounded by numerous conifers whose roots had disturbed the stratigraphy. A number of trees were removed and given that 19th century pottery and modern religious medals were still present among the finds it was decided to interrupt the excavation as the finds can be interpreted as material resulting from the demolition of the church, which historic sources date to between 1830 and 1834. The aim had been to check for the presence of burials outside the south side of the church but none were found. The presence of thick woods makes it difficult to open a larger trench further away from the church to test for the presence of a cemetery. In effect, this flatter area seems more suitable for a cemetery but due to the vegetation as things stand, it is not possible to undertake extensive investigations. Next season excavations will take place in a different area of the castle.

This was the 15th campaign of excavations in the archaeological area of Castello di Monte Copiolo (PU) carried out by Urbino University’s School of Medieval Archaeology. After three years of investigating the area of the Complesso della Misericordia (Area 9) situated in the lower part the town, during this campaign the investigations returned to focusing on the interior of the summit enclosure around the ‘rocca’. A new trench was opened in Area 2, trench H, south of the previous trenches G and D2. The chosen area provided elements that were helpful in understanding and investigating the final section of the summit _palatium_ of the ‘rocca’. The trench measured c. 4.5 m(east-west) x 5 m (north-south). According to 17th century iconographic sources (a watercolour by Francesco Mingucci), the _palatium_ was closed to the south by a quadrangular tower. The trench aimed to check whether any of the tower structures remained in the area, given that a number of anomalies in the terrain suggested the presence of a structure below ground. The remains of a large quadrangular room emerged from underneath several layers of material from the post-16th century demolition of the castle, interpreted as probably the tower visible in the watercolour. The excavation of the area is ongoing and the coming campaigns should provide evidence for the chronology of the structure’s use.

This was the 15th campaign of excavations in the archaeological area of Monte Copiolo (PU) carried out by Urbino University’s Department of Medieval Archaeology. Following three years of investigations in the area of the Complesso della Misericordia (Area 9) situated at the base of the settlement, this season the excavations returned to focus on the interior of the enclosure on the summit. A new trench (Trench H) was opened to the south of preceding trenches G and D2. The chosen area was useful for the understanding and investigation of the final section of the summit _palatium_. The quadrangular trench measured c. 4.5 (east-west) x 5 (north-south) metres. A 17th century watercolour by Francesco Mingucci shows that the _palatium_ was closed to the south by a quadrangular tower. The aim of the new trench was to look for the remains of the tower, also because the presence of several anomalies in the terrain suggested the presence of walls below ground. Several layers relating to the post-16th century demolition of the castle were removed revealing the remains of a quadrangular room that may be interpreted as the inner room of an oversized structure, probably the tower shown in the watercolour. The excavation of the structure remains to be completed and continuation of the investigation should further define the chronological development of its use.