Fra le città citate da Plinio il Vecchio nel III libro della _Naturalis Historia_, come centri indipendenti della Regio VIII (Aemilia) si annovera anche _Tannetum_. Si tratta di una di quelle città che non sopravvissero alla crisi tardoantica e _Tannetum_ scomparve totalmente, tanto che oggi è complesso stabilirne la precisa collocazione. Peraltro essa non rappresenta un caso isolato in regione, se pensiamo che delle 24 città citate dalla fonte menzionata, solamente 12 sopravvissero divenendo sede di diocesi. Gli unici dati a nostra disposizione per la collocazione del centro sono le fonti itinerarie. Queste pongono la città concordemente fra le attuali Reggio Emilia e Parma, sulla via Emilia, rispettivamente a VIII miglia dalla prima e a X dalla seconda (un differente computo è fornito solo dalla _Tabula Peutingeriana_, ma la differenza è minima: VII miglia da Parma e XI da Reggio). Ad una distanza compatibile con queste, sull’attuale percorso della via Emilia, si pone oggi S. Ilario d’Enza, ritenuto generalmente la sede dell’antica città. Tuttavia la situazione rimane complessa: a S. Ilario i dati archeologici sembrano evidenziare come il rinvenimento di gran lunga più testimoniato sia quello di sepolture. Se queste, come pare, sono da attribuirsi ad età romana, _Tannetum_ non può trovarsi in questa posizione. D’altra parte circa 1.5 km a nord di S. Ilario si trova ancora oggi la località di Taneto, toponimo che esplicitamente ricorda quello della città romana; tuttavia anche in questo caso i dati archeologici sono molto scarsi. A sud-ovest di Taneto si sono riscontrate alcune tracce in fotografie aeree che hanno suggerito verifiche attraverso sondaggi, perciò nel Settembre 2016 si è proceduto ad una breve campagna di ricerche archeologiche. Ad oggi, i riscontri non sono stati decisivi per localizzare definitivamente l’insediamento, tuttavia la campagna di ricerche ha confermato la presenza di stratigrafie di età romana in corrispondenza di alcune delle tracce da fotografia aerea (le UUSS più precisamente databili sembrerebbero potersi ricondurre alla prima età imperiale); anche altri sondaggi, in zone ove non risultavano tracce da foto aerea, hanno documentato livelli di età romana e dall’analisi complessiva dei materiali da scavo e da ricognizione si è potuta constatare una frequentazione dell’area dall’età repubblicana al III d.C. A tali dati si aggiungono alcune indagini Georadar effettuate da Marco Camorani per l’istituto Cat-Geometri "Angelo Secchi", in collaborazione con il Collegio dei Geometri di Reggio Emilia. I risultati sembrerebbero indicare la presenza di una strada orientata nord-est/sud ovest, oltre che alcune discontinuità e anomalie in corrispondenza di tracce individuate in fotografia aerea. Alla prima campagna di scavo, per ora di estensione limitata, è stata associata anche un’attività di ricognizione che ha portato all’individuazione di altre aree di dispersione di materiali di età romana nelle immediate vicinanze dell’area dei saggi, ma anche, nelle vicinanze, una ampia dispersione di materiali della seconda età del ferro (IV/III a.C.) e di cultura celto-ligure. Tale dato, se confermato da futuri sondaggi in programmazione, potrebbe risultare di particolare importanza, dato che _Tannetum_ è ricordata da Polibio e Livio nel 218 a.C. come villaggio celtico.

In the summer of 2017, research continued on the site of Tannetum, the results of which provided the basis for the reconstruction of the occupation phases within this territory. In fact, during last year's survey, a large area (1.7 ha) was identified with scattered material of Celtic culture dating to the middle and late Iron Age (4th-3rd century B.C.). The 2017 survey, carried out in collaboration with the Gruppo Storico-Archeologico val d'Enza, confirmed this chronology with further finds of decorated pottery and a bronze fibula. A _sondage_ was opened, which showed that an anomaly in an aerial photograph corresponded with the presence of a structure, unfortunately only preserved at foundation level. This was a square structure ( 3.10 x 3.10 m) built of unbaked brick. Further excavation is required before an interpretation can be attempted. Research also continued in the locality of Bertana, where last year several early imperial layers were identified, partially overlying anomalies seen on aerial photographs. The site was confirmed as being of particular interest. Another layer, similar to those from the previous year, was identified and two late antique burials were uncovered. A geomagnetic survey revealed the presence of other burials that will be investigated in coming seasons. Nearby, a small _sondages_ revealed the presence of a cobblestone surface suggesting the presence of a Roman road or a paved open area. Lastly, a _sondage_ was opened in the locality of "Castellazzo", where excavations in the 1950s discovered structures that remained without an interpretation or dating. Here, a tower was identified (c. 8 x 13 m), which was part of a large fortress. One of the entrances to the "Rocca" was also identified, characterised by three different types of paving: one part was beaten earth, another a cobbled surface and the other a gravel surface. A deep trench was opened immediately outside the structure, which revealed a square-sectioned timber post deeply embedded in the ground, just below the foundation level of the tower. One interpretation of this find is that it was part of pileworking put in to consolidate the terrain prior to the fort's construction. A sample of the timber was sent to Georgia University for C14 dating, which gave a result of 857 A.D. (+-25 years), the first certain date that can be given to this struture after centuries of debate.

This season work took place in three areas. In the first, situated along the Milan-Bologna railway line, in the territory of Gattatico, south-west of the village of Taneto, a field with an abundant scatter of pottery was identified in 2016. A Late Iron Age fibula attributable to the Celto-Ligure culture was also found in the field. The excavations revealed the damage caused by centuries of ploughing and agricultural work. The stratigraphy was disturbed and only the sub-foundations of structures built in perishable materials survived. As this is the only substantial find in the area of this date, it can be suggested that it relates to the stories of Polybius and Livy that describe _Tannetum_ in 218 B.C. as a Celtic village, which housed a Roman military garrison in difficulty, during the years of Hannibal’s descent into Italy. The second area is situated close to the station of S. Ilario d’Enza. Some 19th century reports and excavations in the 1970s provided slight information about the discovery of Roman road cobbles in the zone, in an area that is thought to be one of the most probable sites for the lost Roman town of _Tannetum_. The 2018 excavations revealed a Roman road, hitherto unknown, running north-south. It was over 4 m wide and presented cartwheel ruts. The road surface was paved in carefully laid cobblestones, which, in ancient Aemelia, was only typical of urban roads, or of those immediately outside the town. This is an important discovery as it provides the certainty of being in the immediate proximity of _Tannetum_, if not inside the town itself. The coming excavation campaigns will provide further details. Lastly, investigations took place in a medieval fortification known as “il Castelazzo”. During the 2017 campaign, a tower was uncovered (one of 8 according to the sources); this year its interior was investigated. The final occupation layers and traces of a probable violent end, perhaps a fire, were sealed below a layer of collapse. The finds included pottery, beads, a silver coin, which like one found last year, dates to the reign of Otto III (Holy Roman Emperor 996-1001 A.D.), weapons (an arrowhead, lance point, a bone element from a crossbow), as to be expected in a military structure. An exceptional find was formed by 6 finely-worked ivory gaming pieces, largely intact (to which several fragmentary gaming pieces, at least two of which identifiable). Many of these gaming pieces belong to chess sets, which only entered Europe in the 9th century. The study is only at the beginning, but this could be the earliest and largest find of this typology in Italy to date. The excavation of the tower will probably continue for some years, and it is hoped to find further example.

Le ricerche del 2019 hanno interessato cinque aree. La prima (comune di Gattatico, lungo la ferrovia Milano-Bologna), aveva rivelato la presenza in ricognizione di abbondante materiale celtico. Questo dato, in associazione alle strutture in mattoni crudi rinvenute nelle precedenti due campagne di scavo aveva portato alla proposta di identificare questo sito come il villaggio boico di Tannetum ricordato dalle fonti. Gli scavi già condotti avevano tuttavia rivelato come le arature profonde degli anni settanta del Novecento avessero, in gran parte, sconvolto le strutture e, nonostante incoraggianti dati dalle indagini geofisiche, anche lo scavo 2019 ha confermato il dato: si sono rinvenute due us lineari di colore chiaro da interpretare ipoteticamente come fondazioni di muri in mattoni crudi. Tuttavia nel suolo arativo, oltre a ceramica celtica e ad alcuni elementi bronzei, si sono riscontrati rinvenimenti monetali romani che testimoniano una frequentazione del sito molto più prolungata di quanto prima postulato. Il secondo sondaggio ha invece interessato un’area posta nel comune di Sant’Ilario d’Enza, immediatamente a nord della stazione ferroviaria. Qui si era già indagata una piccola porzione di strada finemente ciottolata di età romana larga oltre 4 m e recante le tracce del passaggio dei carri. La campagna 2019 ha indagato l’area con maggiore estensione e si è potuto constatare un altro dato importante dal punto di vista topografico: nel limite settentrionale dello scavo sulla direttrice N-S già individuata sembra immettersi una seconda strada ciottolata che ha direzione NW-SE, purtroppo l’area è compromessa dallo scavo di un canale in epoca medievale. Infine si è continuata l’indagine presso il fortilizio noto come “Castellazzo”(Gattatico). Si sta analizzando stratigraficamente una delle torri della struttura e già dal 2018 si era proceduto ad asportare un profondo strato di colore scuro riconducibile alle fasi di distruzione del castello. Nello scavo di quest’anno si sono confermati i dati della scorsa campagna, con il ritrovamento di 4 ulteriori monete dell’Imperatore Ottone III e altro materiale (elementi riconducibili ad armi, ceramica, fusaiole) riferibile alla medesima cronologia, confermando così i dati già raccolti. La presente campagna ha portato al recupero anche tre pedine intere (o reintegrabili) da riferire al gioco della dama o del backgammon. Si sono operati anche due nuovi sondaggi in comune di Sant’Ilario, il primo, posto immediatamente a sud della stazione ferroviaria, ha portato solamente alla scoperta di una struttura di età moderna, ma l’area sembra in gran parte compromessa dalla creazione di una industria conserviera. Il secondo sondaggio è invece stato condotto nella porzione orientale del paese di Sant’Ilario, nel Parco Allende. Qui analisi geomagnetiche avevano rivelato alcune anomalie che la verifica archeologica ha dimostrato essere riconducibili ad una realtà archeologica. Si tratta di una US composta da piccoli ciottoli, ghiaia e rari frammenti laterizi romani che occupa pressoché l’intera dimensione del sondaggio. Essa ha restituito una cospicua quantità di materiali che ne testimoniano una lunga frequentazione. Nell’angolo sud-orientale sembra essersi identificato un limite e parrebbe quindi trattarsi di una strada glareata orientata E-W, verosimilmente riconducibile alla centuriazione di questo territorio.

This season’s research was limited in both time and area explored due to problems associated with the Covid 19 pandemic. It was decided to organise the work using a small team and to examine only one area where last year two _sondages_ produced some promising results. The area in question is the Allende park at S. Ilario d’Enza where a magnetometer survey was carried out prior to the 2019 excavations, which revealed several long linear anomalies. Last year one of these traces was investigated, situated in the northern part of the park, and a cobblestone surface was uncovered that extended across the entire trench. A substantial amount of material was found attesting a long occupation (early imperial to the late antique period). This year it was decided to open a trench at a right-angle to the one excavated in 2019, in order to identify the edges of the surface, thought to be a cobblestone road about 3.86 m wide and running east-west. The alignment and lack of finds at its sides suggest that it was a road associated with the Roman land divisions and was probably the continuation of a similar cobbled surface found during the 1800s by Gaetano Chierici at “le fornaci”. According to my reconstruction, this locality was situated just east of the area investigated by this mission. A second trench was opened in the southern part of the park, which was also in correspondence with two anomalies revealed by the geophysical survey. This revealed a long well-made dry-stone wall built of cobblestones, with other walls joining it both to the south and north. Although it was not possible to investigate further, it may be suggested that this was a rustic structure, given the construction technique, which in the late antique period was partially used for funerary purposes. In fact, three burials were found that were badly disturbed perhaps by agricultural activity or nearby building work in the 1970s. The burials were positioned, partially demolishing the structure, after the building was abandoned. Despite the limits imposed by the pandemic, this season’s results were positive given that they seem to confirm that this area was not within the urban area of Tannetum, which in our opinion probably lies further north-west near the Milan-Bologna railway line.

In 2021, two trenches were excavated, both situated in the territory of Gattatico (RE). The first was opened inside the Bertana a Taneto Park, one of the few zones that can still be investigated in this area, lying across the present day via Manfredi. It was here that the presence of Roman dwellings was documented in the 1800s and 1960s. The excavation was preceded by a geo-magnetic survey, which showed the presence of two linear anomalies running SW-NE. The excavation revealed that they corresponded to a wide channel (a Republican aes that had been cut in half came out of the fill) and a small _pisé_ wall that cut a layer rich in archaeological material, in particular black glaze fragments and pieces of a wattle and daub. This layer filled the uneven terrain at the base of the stratigraphy, which corresponded with the ancient bed of the torrent Enza that was formed by intertwining streams. The second trench was opened at the Castellazzo, a small medieval fort that was excavated in 2017. An area outside the structure was investigated, in the direction of the torrent Enza. At a few centimetres below the ground surface, an arrangement of cobblestones emerged that can probably be interpreted as a medieval road and some of its rebuilds. In fact, historical aerial photographs show that the trace corresponding with this infrastructure continues well-beyond the fort towards the north, and to the south seems to head towards the castle gate. Unfortunately, agricultural activity has partially compromised the stratigraphy. The results of this campaign were particularly interesting: for the first time we have evidence for the Republican period in the area of ancient _Tannetum_, and an infrastructure was found that aids in our understanding of the landscape by the Enza torrent in the early medieval period.

Two trenches were opened in the Parco di via Allende, in the town of S. Ilario d’Enza, an area thought to be part of ancient _Tannetum_. The zone was partially investigated in 2019 and 2020 when, in the northern part of the park, a Roman _via_ _glareata_ was identified, several metres of which were investigated but no structures were found along its sides. A second trench was opened in the southern part of the park, which identified several walls and production structures probably part of a _villa_ _rustica_. In 2022, this second trench was extended to reveal more walls confirming the proposed interpretation. Additionally, following a geophysical survey, a large trench was also opened in an area midway between the two previously excavated trenches. This exposed an area of Roman occupation (without structures), thus confirming that _Tannetum_ was not in this area and that in the Roman period this zone was outside the town. A second tower of the small fortress was investigated in the locality of “Castellazzo”. The removal of US 0 exposed four walls of the structure and its point of attachment to the fortress. The dimensions of the walls, the construction technique and the “coupling” with the fortress walls were very similar to what was seen in previous years at the west tower: this confirms a single building intervention aimed at improving the forts defensive capabilities. Another layer of fill was removed that was possibly connected with the excavations that took place here in the 1950s and 60s, thus reaching the unexcavated stratigraphy, which will be investigated next year. There were several technical details of great interest, for example possible evidence of a floor make-up broken through by the collapse of the tower’s upper floors or the Roman coin found embedded in the lime of the construction, perhaps for apotropaic motives.