Season Director

• AIAC_1703 - Cattedrale di Acerenza - 2006
  The archaeological investigation undertaken along the south nave of Acerenza cathedral (PZ) and the area outside the building brought to light an apsidal structure on an E-W alignment. The building had a single nave and was out of alignment with the cathedral by circa 16° and was missing its southern arm. The excavation concentrated on the interior and exterior of this building where traces emerged of eight circular pits cut into the sandstone bedrock. The fill of these pits was constituted by layers of dumped material, careful examination of which identifies pottery dating to the 2nd-1st century B.C. and the 7th-8th century A.D. The presence of painted coarsewares, burnished and imitation African Red Slip wares date the reuse of the pits to the early medieval period and thus provide a _terminus ante quem_ for the dating of the apsidal building itself. Pit 5, the deepest (from 9.17-7.23 m,), continued below the cathedral. To the west of the apsidal building a plastered rectangular structure (circa 1.60 x 3.15 m) was uncovered. This was probably adapted as a common grave for the burial of numerous individuals. The burials in primary and secondary deposition, mostly without grave goods, can be dated to between the 18th-19th century. North of the apsidal building a vertical furnace was identified, of which the combustion chamber was preserved. This was half cut into the bedrock and half covered by a small brick vault. The fill contained material dating to the 19th century. Finds included bronze waste products associated with traces of bronze and charcoal on the combustion chamber floor.

Season Team

• AIAC_612 - Castello di Lagopesole - 2000
  Gli scavi hanno interessato il settore "posterula" all'esterno del muro Sud del Castello. Qui sono state rilevate le tracce dell'impianto più antico, risalente al periodo bizantino, in particolare ai secoli IX-XI, di cui è documentata una grande torre quadrangolare e i suoi annessi, costituiti da cisterna e silos utilizzati presumibilmente sino alla costruzione del donjon svevo. L'impianto bizantino venne abbandonato dai Normanni che realizzarono ex novo un grande recinto rettangolare. Il successivo periodo federiciano vede la costruzione di una bassa cortina sui lati Sud ed Ovest del donjon. In seguito si provvide alla sopraelevazione delle cortine perimetrali che raggiunsero all'incirca la quota attuale, negando qualsiasi funzione al donjon, che fu conservato probabilmente soltanto per la sua cisterna. La parte orientale del cortile con l'impianto termale, costruito riutilizzando in parte le precedenti fondazioni normanne, fu ristrutturata radicalmente. In tutta l'ala Est nel piano inferiore si svolgevano le attività connesse al balneum. (Maria Luisa Nava)