The sanctuary of Piana del Lago was discovered in 1987 on the south shore of Lake Bolsena (Fig. 1) during the construction of a water treatment plant. Excavations carried out by the Archaeological Superintendency in 1988 and then between 2001 and 2005, uncovered an area of circa 1300 m2 (22 x 60 m) revealing, among other things, a portico and two temple buildings (Fig. 2). The numerous finds dated the occupation of the sacred area to between the late 5th century B.C. and the mid-1st century A.D. Excavations were re-opened this year as part of a three-year concession (2020-2022) granted to the École normale supérieure de Paris. The project aims to gain a better understanding of the type and chronology of the structures discovered and identify the full extension of the site. This season’s research concentrated on one of the temples - Temple A. It was seen that this building at least was no earlier than the 2nd century B.C., while the portico, which forms the _temenos_ to the sacred structure, seems datable to the 3rd century B.C. The majority of the finds – architectural terracottas, bronze and terracotta votives – dated to chronological horizons between the early 3rd century and the late 2nd century B.C. There were a few finds that, in addition to documenting the Neolithic and late Bronze Age occupation of the site, also attested the presence of a cult in this area already between the late 6th century and the 4th century B.C. (fragments of architectural terracottas). The continuation of open-area excavations in some sectors and the opening of trenches down to natural will provide a more complete vision of the structures and chronology of the occupation in this part of the sacred area.

Situated on the south shore of Lake Bolsena, the sanctuary of Piana del Lago was discovered in 1987 during the construction of a water purification plant. The excavation of an area of circa 1300 m2 (22 x 60 m) was carried out by the Superintendency in 1988, and between 2001-2005, and the abundant materials recovered date the use of the sacred area to between the late 6th century B.C. and the first half of the 1st century A.D. This was the second year of excavations by the École Normale Supérieure de Paris, part of a three-year permit (2020-2022), undertaken with contributions from CNRS, UMR 8546 and the Fondazione Rovati. The project’s overall aims are to gain a better understanding of the type and chronology of the structures and of the site’s actual extension. The trench, opened to the east and west of temple A, showed that there were no substantial pre-Roman levels in this sector, except for a Final Bronze Age hearth found at the eastern end of the excavation (fig. 3), which may indicate the presence of a permanent settlement in this zone close to the lake shore. The earliest part of the sanctuary, documented by materials pre-dating the 3rd century B.C., probably lies below the field east of the excavated area, where during work undertaken at the end of last century, it seems that the remains of two altars were found. The discovery of a Neronian _aes_ means that the latest occupation date for the sanctuary, until now thought to be no later than the reign of Claudius, can be moved forwards by a few decades. A geophysical survey, directed by Dr. Marco Marchetti, of the Instituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, was undertaken inside the sanctuary area excavated thus far.

This was the third and final year of the permit granted to the École normale supérieure, Paris for excavations at the sanctuary of Piana del Lago (fig. 1). At the end of this season, it was decided to interrupt excavation, at least temporarily, in order to proceed with the study of the materials and their publication. The work concentrated on the western part of the excavation area (fig. 2), in particular building D, interpreted as a temple following the nearby discovery of fragments from large terracotta sculptures probably belonging to the pediment of the sacred building. The excavation produced no votives and no cement floor survived (its make-up rested directly on the bank of phonolite-tephrite rock). The building’s identification is made difficult by the complete destruction of its north side during the work that led to the site’s discovery (fig. 3). However, it does not seem datable to before the 1st century B.C.; it seems in any case to be much later than the terracottas discovered nearby, which should be attributed to another building of Hellenistic date, certainly larger, situated outside the present excavation area. Further excavation took place at the base of altar E, formed by two nenfro slabs with moulding, which appeared to be upside down. The slabs did not seal a votive pit. The planned geophysical survey that was to be undertaken by the National Institute of Geology and Vulcanology of Rome, both to the east (site of a large Roman villa) and west of the excavation area in order to gain a more precise idea of the limits of the sacred site, was postponed until 2023. Therefore, at the end of the three-year excavation permit, it can be suggested that the area opened at the beginning of this project was part of an earlier sanctuary (created towards the end of the 5th century B.C., attested by several pottery and terracotta fragments?), perhaps situated higher up on the northern slope of the Cornos hill. The area may perhaps constitute an extension that developed from the late 4th century B.C. onwards with the construction of a portico, a temple and several other structures, which was finally abandoned towards the mid-1st century