The 2016 excavations took place in the area of the monastic cloister, in front of the great church, with the continuation of work in area CL/C2 already partially investigated between 2000-2002 and later in 2013.
In particular, excavations concentrated inside rooms N and O, and the area outside room O (eastern entrance) in trench C2.

The research was undertaken by a team from the Laboratory of Late Antique and Medieval Archaeology at Suor Orsola Benincasa University, Naples.
The work in room N involved lengthy and accurate cleaning, with the removal of the materials that had built up over the area since the last excavations in 2013. The excavation of room N was then extended to the east by just under 1 m with the removal of a deep layer of agricultural soil, already seen during previous campaigns.

The removal of the upper layers revealed a thin mortar surface overlying a make-up formed by a substantial accumulation of crushed travertine mortar and gravel. These levels had been partially visible during the cleaning of the trench sections in room N and in the south section of room O, and should belong to a phase when the area was reorganised, dating to the 11th century or later.
Below these layers, a mortar floor surface was identified, very similar to the one above, but cut by the foundations of the 11th century structures and probably relating to room P nearby, dating to the cloister’s Carolingian phase.
Unfortunately, due to the limited excavation area, the lack of diagnostic pottery, and the high level of damage caused by agricultural activity, it is very difficult to get a clear picture of the dating and nature of the identified accumulations.

The excavation of room O uncovered the structures and floors for which an 11th century date was proposed.
Due to the size of the area, the excavations were concentrated in three different zones, leaving several baulks in the central part of the room.
The first trench (6.2 × 1.3 m) was opened towards the west up against the visible ‘late medieval’ walls.

In this zone, a floor surface relating to a small craft working area, probably linked to the pyrotechnie or “arts of fire”, was uncovered. At present, it is difficult to establish the nature of the activities undertaken here due to the lack of slag, waste materials or other production indicators. However, the area was almost entirely rubified, with abundant presence of charcoal, small baked clay fragments and, in the places where the temperature had been the hottest, evidence of the vitrification of terracotta elements.
The second trench was opened on the eastern side of room O, extending the excavation towards the river Volturno by about 1.2 m.

Work was undertaken to improve the visibility of a wall already seen during the last excavation season in 2013, and to re-trace a rather complex stratigraphy.
In fact, the removal of the surface layers revealed two perpendicular walls, pre-dating the 11th century structures, and a series of layers relating to the occupation, abandonment, and reuse of the area.

As far as possible in such a restricted area, the stratigraphic relationships provided an understanding of the chronology of events, with a clear manifestation of how the use and layout of the area was radically altered during the course of time. Indeed, while the quadrangular plan of the 11th century rooms is clear, that of the preceding phases can only be hypothesised, observing the parallel line taken by the wall found at the far east of room O, which respected what seems to be the wall of the cloister’s corridor, on the west side.
The last area investigated was situated next to room O and the so-called East Passageway. The excavations exposed more of a moderately compact crushed travertine mortar surface that was obliterated by a layer of soil and the 11th century walls.

Within and above this there was a complex situation, consisting of the cut for a wall, completely razed, with an irregular alignment compared to the others, and an area with a cobblestone paving, which probably, corresponded with an external passageway of quite late date.
To conclude, the stratigraphy investigated during the campaign revealed a new situation for the area in question. This opens new scenarios for the earliest phases of the monastic claustrum for which it is possible to suggest, although further excavation is needed, a different layout for the 11th century structures and the operations that led to the formation of the later topography.