This site was identified in the late 1970s to the north of the town. It has been equipped to meet the highest standards of stratigraphic excavation and make use of the most up to date interdisciplinary research methods in order to trace a complete picture of the territory’s evolution and the earliest settlement.
In the early Paleolithic period, around 700,000 years ago, a small group of hunters, chose a piece of land close to a water course and set up camp there on several occasions. Evidence for hunting has been found within the stratigraphy. This includes the bones of various types of game, some of which had been deliberately smashed, flint and limestone tools and a large number of stone blocks layed down as if to “pave” one of the excavated surfaces.
The enlargement of the excavation in recent years has revealed further “archaeo-surfaces”: in particular surface 3a which produced numerous finds and intact animal bones, and surface 3S10, whose relationship to the latter is still being studied.
Positions and breaks in the stratigraphic sequences make it easier to interpret the sedimentary position of the layers and the formation of the “archeo-surfaces”. An outcrop of travertine deposits has been identified, situated between marshes and small lakes. These “islands” provided places of refuge for the paleolithic hunters.
The excavations have also fixed the position of, recovered and classified a vast quantity of archaeological and paleontological material. (Cristiana Terzani)