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 x 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.

This season, work took place in the eastern area of the cloister denominated CL/C, where in previous campaigns a number of rooms facing onto the porticoed wings were identified. Excavations took place in rooms “N” and “O”. The excavation in room N was extended towards the east in order to check the extension of the abandonment layers identified in 2016. The abandonment layers were also present in the west entrance that linked the room to a small trapezoidal room. The removal of these layers revealed the N-S wall constituting the east side of the room. It was thus possible to define the quadrangular plan and size of the room that was characterised by having two perimeter walls in common with room “O” immediately to the north. The continuation of the excavations also revealed a surface (1 x 1 m) made up of fragmented tiles with traces of burning interpreted as a cooking surface relating to the final occupation phase of this area. A rather significant find came to light close to this feature: a four-handled ceramic vessel whose surface is covered with anthropomorphic figures and graffiti. Excavation continued in room “O” and the area was extended towards the east. In this case, the deepening of the excavation revealed occupation evidence pre-dating the construction of the room itself. In fact, the circular base of a large lime mixer was identified (in the north zone), which attests the presence of a building site. This is also attested by a large pit (N-W corner), partially lined with tile and with clear traces of burning, which may be interpreted as a limekiln, flanked by a heap of large limestone blocks ready to be processed. A mortar floor surface, probably in phase with four postholes, was identified in the S-W zone, but at present its function is not known. Lastly, the eastwards extension revealed the eastern perimeter wall (northwards continuation of the wall in room N), reinforced by a second wall, also on a N-S alignment. These structures appear to be in phase with a mortar surface to the east, which could represent the bottom of a staircase. In both rooms, the stratigraphy attested occupation from the 9th to the 11th century. Prior to the construction of the adjoining rooms, the area was used as a building site for the construction of the colonnaded wings, presumably around about the 9th century. Soon afterwards, the perimeter walls defining the rooms in question were built. The latter presented various phases of collapse, subsequently levelled to allow new occupation, which saw a series of diverse production activities, including a limekiln and a forge (room N). At present, it is difficult to precisely define the period that saw the robbing of several walls, but it seems clear that after these activities the area was abandoned and later used for agricultural activities in the modern era.