As part of the project to develop the archaeological area of Vaste, two excavation campaigns (June-July 2007, November-December 2007) were carried out in the Fondo Melliche, covering an overall area of circa 150 m2. More than thirty post-holes came to light, in part excavated in the earth and in part rock-cut. Inside each one the lower layers contained animal bones, whilst the upper layers produced Iron Age pottery, mainly geometric and sub-geometric Salento productions (8th-7th century B.C.) and impasto. Furthermore, pieces of baked clay cooking stands, ash and charcoal remains were also found in the post-holes.

The pottery vessels were mainly locally produced pithoi, kraters with mushroom handles, jars, jugs, small jugs, small jars and skyphoi. There were also numerous Greek imports, in particular from Corinth, and from eastern Greece. Almost all of the post-holes were closed, as it were “plugged”, by a thick layer of crushed tufina and gravel. In some cases stone circles were present beside the holes. Some of the stones had holes in them. The archaeological data collected from the area with these deposits suggested that it had a cult function, in fact, it appeared to have been used for religious ceremonies and ritual practices of a Chthonic nature.

The same sector also produced evidence for the successive periods. In particular two votive deposits of archaic date were excavated, both placed inside partially rock-cut holes. The deepest contained a number of pouring vessels, including a Bolsal type Attic cup dating to the third quarter of the 5th century B.C., a lekane, a jug and a miniature vase, together with ashy soil with an organic matrix. Overlying the pit was a small tumulus of stones. Beside this was another hole containing an impasto jar, a Corinthian kotyle, a ladle and a hydria. The excavation also uncovered structures relating to the Hellenistic occupation, including a rock-cut cistern, over 4 m deep, for rainwater collection. The fill was constituted by large local limestone blocks from the demolition of buildings, tiles and pottery dating to between the 4th and 3rd century B.C. (black glaze ware, plain ware, banded ware and brown glaze ware). The presence of numerous fragments of pithoi and louteria was of particular interest.

Furthermore, a cylindrical hole, dug into the natural clay, produced a dump of ash in which there were several black glaze vases, miniature vases and iron agricultural implements. Another hole, an incomplete well, produced a large number of cooking pots and casseroles, together with jugs and lekanai.