This was the second season of excavations at the settlement of the Timpone of the Motta di Francavilla Marittima (CS). The investigations concentrated on the so-called plateau II, one of the main settlement areas. At the same time, the first survey of plateau I was undertaken, which it is planned to excavated next year.

The excavations were preceded by georadar and magnetometer surveys, which registered substantial anomalies. Excavation continued in trenches 2 and 3, and new trenches were opened (4: 9 × 8.5 m, 9: 3.4 × 2 m) in order to extend this excavation area. New trenches 5 (5 × 5 m), 8 (5 × 3.10 m) and 7 (14 × 12 m) were also opened on the lower terrace of the plateau. The excavations in trenches 2, 3, 4, and 9 revealed a stratigraphic sequence with three structures that were built in different periods. The earliest structure was constituted by a row of cobbles and pithoi body sherds, found thus far for a length of c. 2 m. These remains were obliterated by a layer on which a substantial wall was built, conserved for a length of c. 6.5 m, constructed with large cobbles and squared blocks of conglomerate. The latter was identified last year. This wall was obliterated by a layer of earth on top of which a large containing wall was built of lumps of conglomerate and large cobbles, intercepted in 2017, and excavated for c. 15 m this year. The preliminary dating has identified a more monumental phase in the 6th century B.C., earlier periods of occupation (early Iron Age and 7th century B.C.), and later phases (5th-4th century B.C.), which show continuity of occupation on the plateau.

In trenches 5 and 8 the remains of a hut were found on the edge of the plateau. The finds included fragments of baked clay and materials datable to the early Iron Age.
In trench 7, the so-called “Casa della cucina” was rediscovered. It was partially excavated in the 1960s, but all trace of it was lost and it was impossible to get a precise location from the published plans. Rediscovered thanks to the use of georadar, the structure immediately appeared to be well-preserved. In the northern part, the foundation footing of cobbles was preserved intact (c. 70 cm high). This season, the entire perimeter of the hut was exposed (c. 15 × 5 m) and the excavation began of the rooms (not investigated in the 60s); its excavation will be completed in 2019.