The settlement of Sorgenti della Nova developed between the 11th and 10th century B.C. on a tufa and pumice stone outcrop. It is situated at the north-western limit of the province of Viterbo, where the Fosso della Varlenza and the Fosso La Nova, from whose springs it takes its name, mark the boundary between Tuscany and Lazio. The rock is naturally fortified by its sheer sides: a manmade cut in the western wall, completely isolates the settlement. Ferrante Rittatore Vonwiller undertook the first exploration of the site in 1938; between 1972 and 1973 the rock was cut and partially destroyed by a pumice quarry. The intervention by Milan University dates to 1973, when an attempt was made to collect the material dispersed by the bulldozers. In 1974 the first real excavation campaign began and work has continued on the site until the present day. From 1976 onwards N. Negroni Catacchio has directed the excavations. The excavations looked at a number of large sectors (I-IX) situated along the north and south sides of the rock and on the acropolis and have brought to light a large proto-Etruscan settlement of proto-urban type and an interesting medieval centre. The “urban” organisation is fairly complex, the most singular characteristic being the repetition of three types of dwelling: small huts with rock cut bottoms and walls made of perishable material, situated on the summit plateau and large enough to house a family nucleus they were probably destined for the ruling class; the manmade grottoes cut into the sides of the rock, used as dwellings, for cult purposes and as service structures; the oval dwellings with foundations on channels (similar to the oval houses of post-Mycean Greece) situated on the terraces in front of the grottoes and destined for use by extended family units. Moreover, a monumental rock cut structure with a ditch opened at the base of the south side, this was 30m long and 2.50m wide and was probably a dwelling of some kind. It was obliterated shortly after its construction and thus it may be interpreted as the community’s first residence on the site. (MiBAC)

The 2007 excavation campaign on the Late Bronze Age settlement of Sorgenti della Nova investigated four sectors: Vb, VIII, X and XI, partly continuing the work undertaken in previous years. Sector Vb, at the base of the southern slope of the rock, was reopened in order to continue investigation of a structure of considerable extension, partially explored in the 1990s. This was a long “ditch” structure (4 x 2 m), uncovered for a length of over 30 m. Previously only a 4 m length had been completely explored and its function was seen to be residential. The ditch had been intentionally filled in the Late Bronze Age. This year a second stretch of 4 m was explored, in a point closer to the western end, where one of its entrances was situated. Only the layers of collapse sealing the structure were removed and they produced a large amount of Late Bronze Age pottery. Sector VIII, situated at the eastern end of the rock, was partially investigated during previous years. Of interest the presence of the so-called “Scala Santa”, a structure of rock-cut steps dubitatively attributed to the proto-historic period, which is thought to constitute an antecedent to a particular type of Etruscan altar. This year the excavation area was extended with the aim of discovering whether structures were present on the rock that could definitely be dated to the Late Bronze Age and how invasive the presence of medieval structures was. The latter were identified earlier during a field survey. Starting at the edge of a medieval quarry (later reused as a dwelling) excavated between 1997 and 2001, a strip of humus, 3 m wide and 34 m long, was removed in the direction of the tower dominating the settlement, until the small plateau at its base was reached. At this point the excavation was widened. Numerous post holes and cuts in the rock were uncovered, datable to the medieval period. On the plateau at the base of the tower the foundations of a rectangular room built of small tufa blocks were found, overlying an earlier square rock-cut structure. This has yet to be explored and thus cannot be dated. Work continued in sector XI, on the north side of the rock. Here in 2004 exploration began of a cave, with signs of proto-historic and medieval working. The investigations continued in 2005 and were concluded in 2006 having brought to light, below the medieval floor level, a layer rich in Etruscan pottery, both archaic and Hellenistic, with residual Bronze Age elements. These finds highlighted the notable analogies in plan and typology with cave 19 in sector IX which also showed faint traces of Etruscan occupation. This year exploration was extended to the space in front of the cave entrance, constituting a sort of “dromos” or “ante-cella” to the cave itself. Meagre patches of stratigraphy were preserved only in proximity to the entrance to the main cave and date to the medieval period. A number of post-holes were present in the floor, none of which showed the signs typical of proto-historic working. No traces were found of any terracing at the front, which, if it had existed, probably eroded away naturally. In 2002 the perimeter of a large rock-cut structure filled by a collapse of large boulders was identified in sector X on the south side of the rock. The removal of the collapse over half of the structure revealed evidence of a sporadic occupation of medieval date, comprising a rough low dry-stone wall and small concentrations of archaic majolica fragments. The floor was exposed in 2006 but without finding any evidence of proto-historic occupation. This year the floor was cleaned in the half excavated in the previous year, revealing a large number of post holes, some almost aligned so as to create internal divisions in the structure. The removal of the collapse in the other half also began, although the bottom was not reached.

In 2008 the excavation continued the previous year’s work in sectors Vb and VIII. In sector Vb exploration continued of the area close to the western end of the monumental “ditch” dwelling where one of its entrances was situated. As the collapse sealing the structure had been removed, this year’s campaign deepened the excavation, identifying several of the structure’s occupation levels, but without reaching the bed-rock. As in previous years there was an abundance of pottery, all datable to the late Bronze Age, with the exception of an almost complete but fragmented jug. Probably a votive offering it was placed inside a small pit up against the wall on the up-hill side of the structure. A second excavation front was opened at circa 12 m from the old edge of the eastern sector, east of the steps which today provide access to the top of the rock. This extension aimed to identify a possible continuation of the structure, whose eastern limit was never reached. The accumulations of material which had tumbled down from above, and which produced a large amount of proto-historic material, were removed, thus revealing the bed-rock. The surface showed plough cuts but was far better preserved here than in the rest of the sector. A number of post holes were also present together with a small channel which at present cannot be dated, but which seemed to be part of a terrace corresponding to that into which the “ditch” structure was excavated. A little further down hill the edge of a second terrace was identified, which however extends within private property. Sector VIII, situated at the eastern end of the rock, had been partially investigated several times in previous years due to the presence of the so-called “Scala Santa”, a structure with a probable symbolic/sacred function, dated to the proto-historic period. In 2008 the excavation concentrated on the small plateau at the base of the tower, already partially explored in the previous year, where numerous post holes and a large rectangular cut in the rock were overlaid by a structure in squared tufa blocks. Excavation of the post holes and the large pit, filled with an ash and charcoal layer, showed that all structures in this area of the rock were of medieval date. However, the unusual presence of large quantities of impasto pottery on the surface, just south of the small plateau close to the tower, suggested that exploration of the area should not be completely abandoned and thus another excavation area was opened here. To date only surface cleaning has been undertaken, with the partial removal of the humus, but this was sufficient to reveal the presence of a cut in the rock. This was filled with collapsed material and the recovered finds were almost exclusively of proto-historic date.

In 2009 excavation on the Late Bronze Age site of Sorgenti della Nova concentrated on sectors Vb and XII, opened in the previous year. In sector Vb excavation continued of the area at the eastern end of the large “ditch” dwelling, close to one of the entrances. Here, the layers of collapse sealing the structure had been removed and occupation levels identified during the two preceding campaigns. This campaign investigated a single layer of considerable depth, constituted by stones and the breakdown of the bed-rock, which seemed to attest a phase of abandonment between two phases of the structure’s use. As in previous years a large amount of pottery was found, all datable to the Late Bronze Age. In the same sector work continued on a second front, opened the previous year in order to investigate the hypothesised continuation of the “ditch” structure, on the opposite side from the access stairway to the top of the rock, at circa 12 m from the former eastern edge of sector Vb. Here, in the last season, layers of accumulated material that had fallen from above were removed and the surface of the rock was reached. The surface was cut by post holes and a small channel. Excavation of all the previously identified structures revealed an articulated and interesting situation, with at least two different occupation phases on the terrace, both in the Late Bronze Age. During the second phase the surface of the rock was partially lowered, cancelling the traces of the earlier structures, in order to make room for a structure, perhaps circular, with foundations on top of the small channel, of which the up hill part was preserved. Furthermore, on the uphill edge of the excavation, right on the section edge, a cut in the rock was identified which seemed to delineate another sunken structure. It remains to be seen whether this was the continuation of the “ditch” structure or was an independent structure. Sector XII, was situated on the eastern part of the rock, south-east of the medieval tower. At the end of the 2008 season a scatter of impasto pottery was seen on the surface and subsequent surface cleaning revealed a cut in the rock filled with collapse and proto-historic material. The beginning of the excavation delimited the rock-cut structure, perhaps a collapsed grotto, or more probably a large sunken hut. Down hill in this sector erosion had revealed two parallel rock-cut channels in the artificially levelled surface and part of a layer rich in impasto pottery, elements confirming the structure’s Late Bronze Age dating. Finally, with the collaboration of the Gruppo Speleologico Maremmano, lead by Carlo Cavanna, a subterranean cavity was identified and partially explored. This came to light due to the collapse of the terrain, at a short distance from the source of the Nova torrent. The cavity was part of a network of rock-cut cuniculi, at present of unknown date, probably linked to the cavity where the torrent springs.

In 2010 the thirty-sixth consecutive excavation campaign was undertaken on the Final Bronze Age settlement of Sorgenti della Nova (Farnese, VT). Following general cleaning of the area and the visitor routes, the excavations concentrated on two sectors. The first, Vb, has been the object of investigations for some time and the second, sector XII, was only opened last year. Sector Vb, situated at the base of south slope of the rock, was reopened in 2007 at a distance of some years, in order to renew the investigation of one of the settlement’s most interesting structures, only partially explored in the 1990s due to its vast extension. This is a “ditch-dwelling”, about 4 m wide and 2.50 m deep, brought to light for a length of 30 m, but which certainly extends beyond the eastern edge of the sector. A stretch of only 4 m had been completely explored but this was enough to reveal its residential function and to show that it had already been deliberately filled in the Final Bronze Age. In the same sector work continued on a second front, at the opposite end of the ditch-dwelling, on either side of the steps leading to the upper terraces of the rock. Here the old trench edge was extended, revealing the continuation of the ditch edge for about 3 m. However, the most interesting data came from the exploration of the terrace below this, which had not been damaged by agricultural work, contrary to the rest of the sector. On this terrace it was seen that the bed-rock surface along the edge of the structure had been lowered, perhaps in relation to the presence of another entrance to the dwelling. On the opposite side of the steps work continued on the excavation front opened in 2008, on the hypothetical continuation of the “ditch” structure, at about 12 m from the old eastern edge of the sector (sector Vb, eastern area). Last year a rather articulated and interesting situation was documented here, with at least two different occupation phases of the terracing, both within the Final Bronze Age. Moreover, on the uphill edge of the excavation, precisely on the edge of the section, there was a cut in the rock which seemed to indicate another sunken structure. Given the results of the preceding campaigns it was decided to examine, where possible, all of the area between the previous trench and the steps, in order to gain a better understanding of the terracing layout and of the structures present. Unfortunately, the surface of the rock was badly damaged and to date no new structures have be found in this area. Sector XII situated in the central part of the rock, was identified during the last few days of the 2008 campaign. In fact, at a point not far from sector VIII, south-east of the medieval tower, the unusual presence of numerous fragments of impasto pottery was noted on the ground surface. At the time it was only possible to undertake surface cleaning of a limited area, but that was enough to show the presence of a cut in the rock completely filled with collapsed material, which produced almost exclusively proto-historic material. The beginning of excavations last year with the enlargement of the explored area and the beginning of the removal of the humus and layers of collapsed material better defined the rock-cut structure, which is either a large hut with sunken base or the base of a grotto. This year the enlargement of the excavation, both uphill and towards the east, and the continued removal of the layers of collapse almost completely revealed the perimeter of the structure. This work also completely exposed the short stretch of terracing in front of the structure that had been spared from erosion and from the medieval structures cutting the rock just down hill. Here a small curved channel was identified, perhaps the foundation of a dwelling with an elliptical plan, together with a niche of unknown function on its uphill parapet. Prior to enlarging the excavation and clarifying the layout of the terracing, the situation appears to present the usual layout, elliptical dwellings, grottoes, structures with sunken bases, warehouses, service structures, characterising the “proto-urban” modules into which the Final Bronze Age settlement was organised and which were very clearly observed in sector IX.

The 37th excavation season on the Final bronze Age settlement of Sorgenti della Nova (Farnese, VT) took place between 22nd august and the 15th September 2011. The work concentrated on sectors Vb and XII. Sector Vb, situated at the base of the southern face of the rock, was reopened in 2007, after several years, with the aim of continuing the investigation of one of the settlement’s most interesting structures. Due to its considerable size, it was only partially excavated, in the 1990s. Thirty metres of this long “ditch” hut, about 4 m wide and 2 m deep, was exposed, but it certainly continued beyond the eastern excavation edge. Only four metres were fully excavated, showing its residential function and the fact that it had already been deliberately filled in the Final Bronze Age. This year the investigation of a zone close to the western edge was completed. It was here, close to one of the entrances, that in preceding campaigns the levels of collapse sealing the dwelling were removed and several occupation layers and floor surfaces were uncovered. This year’s campaign exposed the structure’s rather irregular floor in its entirety. An abundance of pottery was recovered, all dating to the Final Bronze Age. In the same sector, work continued on a second front, at the opposite end from the ditch dwelling, beyond the stairway leading up to the upper terraces, where an area was opened in 2008 in order to investigate the hypothetical continuation of the ditch hut (sector Vb, eastern area). In preceding years a part of the artificial terracing with at least two occupation phases, both in the Final Bronze Age, was removed here. The parapet above the terracing was not reached due to the considerable amount of material covering it. At the uphill excavation edge, along the section, a cut in the rock was exposed which seemed to relate to another sunken structure. This year a mechanical digger was used to enlarge the sector uphill and towards the east, finally reaching the rocky parapet above. The distance between the latter and the edge of the cut may be compatible with the presence of a continuation of the ditch structure, however, due to the limited time and the great quantities of earth removed, it was not possible to reach the rock surface but only the first layers of collapse below the humus. Sector XII, situated to the eastern part of the rock, was identified during the last days of the 2008 season. In fact, at a point a short distance from sector VIII, south-east of the medieval tower, it was noted that there was an unusual presence on the surface of numerous impasto pottery fragments. To date only surface cleaning has been undertaken on a limited area, however, this was sufficient to reveal the presence of a cut in the rock, completely filled with collapsed material containing almost exclusively proto-historic material. The extension of the explored area and the beginning of removal of the humus and layers of collapse, led to a better definition of the rock-cut structure, a large hut with a sunken base, or the base of a grotto, facing onto terracing that was almost completely eroded away. The medieval rock-cut structures situated slightly downhill were also better defined. A small curving channel was identified on the terrace, perhaps the foundation of an elliptical hut. On the parapet above there was a niche whose function has yet to be defined. This year the occupation layers in the hut with the sunken floor were excavated and produced a large amount of pottery. A baked clay hearth was identified on the structure’s floor, probably from the first occupation phase. It was subsequently destroyed by the creation of a small channel relating to the installation of a structure (a loom?) still to be defined with certainty. The uphill sector was also enlarged, where a narrow corridor leading from the main room seemed to indicate the presence of another room in the hut, abutting the rocky parapet to the rear, according to the dwelling type already documented in sector Ve. So far, only the collapse sealing the structure has been reached and the structure’s perimeters are still to be identified.

This was the thirty-eighth excavation campaign on the site of the Final Bronze Age settlement of Sorgenti della Nova (Farnese, VT). The research was undertaken by the Centro Studi di Preistoria e Archeologia Onlus di Milano in collaboration with the Soprintendenza Archeologica dell'Etruria Meridionale. This year, the excavations again concentrated on two sectors, the first Vb, where work has been ongoing for many years, and the other sector XII, only opened relatively recently. Excavation continued in an area opened last year, finally reaching the rocky shoulder uphill. The distance between and the edge of the cut identified in previous years may be compatible with a continuation of the ditch structure. However, lack of time and the massive quantity of terrain that had to be removed meant that for now it has only been possible to explore and remove several layers of collapse and reach the layers formed immediately after the settlement’s abandonment, as attested by the fact that only proto-historic impasto pottery was present. This evidence was enough to suggest the presence of a large buried structure. Sector XII, situated in the eastern part of the hill, was identified during the final days of the 2008 excavation. In fact, at a point a short distance from sector VIII, south-east of the medieval tower the unusual presence of a surface scatter of impasto pottery was noted. Exploration of the main room was completed in the previous year. Traces of a baked clay hearth were found on its floor, probably relating to a first occupation phase, later destroyed by the construction of a small channel relating to the building of a structure yet to be identified. This season the sector was extended uphill, where a narrow corridor exiting from the main room seemed to indicate that the hut had another room, abutting the rock shoulder behind, like the dwelling type already seen in sector Ve. In fact, this was a second room, on a slightly different axis to the first, which produced very few finds and no rock-cut structure, as also seen in sector Ve. In the rear room in sector XII there was a layer containing a relatively large amount of material that attested reoccupation in the Etruscan-archaic period, a rare, although not unattested, occurrence in the settlement of Sorgenti della Nova.

Excavations during the 39th campaign took place in sector Vb and opened a new sector, XII. Sector Vb, situated at the base of the south cliff face, is a long “ditch” house (4 m wide, 2 m, deep), so far over 30 m has been uncovered, but which certainly extends beyond the eastern trench edge. Only a section of a few metres had been excavated, but it was enough to show the structure’s residential function and that the ditch was intentionally filled as early as the Final Bronze Age. This year a surface with traces of burning was identified below layers of collapse in which there was no medieval pottery and only a few fragments of Etruscan pottery. Downhill from this sector, there was a cut in the terrace bedrock along which was a concentration of tufa stones that certainly did not come from this area. It is probable that this was the continuation of the large “ditch” house and that the stones represented the collapse of a dry-stone structure within it or the remains of the layer sealing the ditch fill, identified by the old excavations. Sector XII, in the eastern part of spur was occupied by several structures, the largest of which was a dwelling with two rock-cut rooms, similar to those found in sector Ve. This season, once the layers filling the structures had been excavation, the recording of the hut was completed and the excavation area was extended towards the east and west in order to check for the presence of other dwellings or service structures, similar to those documented in sector I. The results were very interesting: in fact, a circular structure came to light in the extension to the west, cut into the rock to a depth of a few centimetres, sealed by squared stone blocks with a small channel at the centre of its downhill side that probably drained water from its interior. The structure was certainly proto-historic in date, as attested by patches of a layer containing impasto pottery and traces of working left in the rock. At present the structure’s function is unknown . The extension towards the east also revealed an interesting structure at a short distance from the hut, formed by a small quadrangular room and an access corridor. Its excavation remains to be completed and only the latest dumps of material were removed. It appears too small to be a dwelling, although it is similar in plan. It could be a service structure. The continuation of the excavations should clarify its function.

This was the 41st excavation campaign on the Final Bronze Age settlement of Sorgenti della Nova (Farnese, VT). The excavations were carried out by the Centre for Prehistory and Archaeological Studies ONLUS, Milan in collaboration with the Archaeological Superintendency for Lazio and South Etruria. A few days were spent clearing the areas to be excavated and setting up visitors routes within the site. The research then concentrated on two sectors: the first already the subject of excavations, sector Vb, the second a new area, sector XIII. Sector Vb, situated at the base of the southern slope of the cliff was reopened in 2007 in order to continue the investigation of one of the settlement’s most interesting structures, only partially explored due to its substantial size, in the 1990s. This was a long “ditch” house, c. 4 m wide and 2 m deep, uncovered for over 30 m, but certainly extending further beyond the eastern edge of the sector. Only a few metres of its length were fully explored, confirming its residential function and showing that the ditch was deliberately filled already in the Final Bronze Age. Over recent years, work has concentrated on the easternmost end of the sector, beyond the steps leading to the upper terraces of the rock outcrop, where the excavations were previously extended to investigate the hypothetical continuation of the ditch structure (sector Vb, east area). Here, previous campaigns uncovered a section of artificial terrace with at least two occupation phases, both within the Final Bronze Age. At the eastern end of the extension, the rock parapet above the terrace was reached and the layers of medieval and post-medieval collapse removed. Sporadic traces of Etruscan occupation were documented. In addition, traces of a sunken, rock-cut structure were found, filled by collapsed boulders, which seemed to gradually widen to the east, suggesting the presence at this point of a possible entrance. This year the collapse identified during the previous season was removed in an attempt to understand whether, as in the section explored in the 90s, there were was any evidence for it being an artificial fill of the structure, or was the result of the natural erosion of the rocky slope above it. The excavation showed that the apparently uniform mass was in fact formed by distinct episodes and that numerous elements of a different nature (yellow tufa) were present between the boulders that were analogous to the rock in which the structure was cut. The presence of different elements suggests the fill was only partially natural. All of the archaeological materials from the layers were of proto-historic date. The new sector XIII opens on the south side of the rock, on the easternmost part, downhill with respect to the fully-excavated sector XII. Here, there is a rather narrow but long terrace with three caves facing onto it that are still accessible, with clear traces of proto-historic working and adaptation in the medieval period. This feature was identified during a survey and was also visible in old excavation photographs. Excavation began in the easternmost cave, which was the largest and showed the least evidence of later enlargements and restructuring. This season, work was limited to the removal of the latest abandonment levels, revealing a beaten surface and a stone structure for draining water that dripped from the ceiling during heavy rain. Two niches were identified in the internal wall that showed traces of reddening, indicating fires had been lit inside them. Excavations in front of the cave, east of the entrance, reached the bedrock that was seen to have been smoothed by the elements. On the rock face on the same side of the entrance, there was a large niche showing alteration caused by exposure to fire, perhaps the remains of a rock-cut oven, later altered for other purposes.

This was the 42nd excavation campaign on the Final Bronze Age settlement of Nova (Farnese, VT). The research is undertaken by the Centre for the Study of Prehistory and Archaeology ONLUS Milan in collaboration with the Superintendency for Roma, Viterbo and South Etruria. Excavations took place in two sectors: Vb where work had already begun and a new area XIII. Sector Vb, situated at the base of the south side of the cliff, was reopened in 2007 in order to renew the investigation of a “ditch” house, c. 4 m wide, 2 m deep and at present over 50 m long that was only partially excavated in the 1980s. Work concentrated on the eastern end of the sector, on the presumed continuation of the structure (sector Vb, east area). The walls situated on the uphill side and traces of the cut on the downhill side were found. This season, excavation continued inside the structure. The removal of several layers of collapse revealed two interesting elements inside the “ditch” structure. There was a beaten surface occupying almost the entire structure and a sort of large rock cut channel, which at present is difficult to interpret, but datable to a proto-historic period (fig. 1). The pottery confirmed the proto-historic chronology of the fills. At its lowest point, the beaten floor surface was situated at a depth of 99cm below the datum base level. Considering that the sunken base of the hut excavated in the 80s was situated at -1.5-2m, it may be suggested that the beaten floor belonged to a later occupation phase of the “ditch”, but still within the Final Bronze Age. Among the most interesting finds was a small fragmentary bronze fibula, found in an abandonment layer (fig. 2). Sector XIII was opened in the easternmost area of the southern side of the cliff. Identified in 2015, it consisted of a rather narrow but long terrace onto which three caves open. The caves contained clear evidence of proto-historic working and medieval modifications. In 2015, work began in the easternmost cave. This season, exploration continued inside this cave (n. 51) and the part of the terrace in front of it (fig. 3 and 4). There were two niches inside the cave: the larger one dates to a proto-historic period, and was cut by two small channels and a posthole. There was another niche outside the cave in the east wall, also datable to a proto-historic period. It contained traces of burning and was possibly an oven. The excavations identified an abandonment layer and two occupation layers attributable to the medieval period (fig. 5). Four postholes were dug at the centre of the cave in the latest abandonment layer. There was evidence for another temporary structure in the north-eastern corner of the cave: a cut and a fill of stones and earth for supporting timber posts housed in six holes in the northern rock face. Excavation of the area in front of the cave revealed the absence of a terraced surface: in fact, the section of bedrock now visible revealed the presence of a sloping “road” in which three small channels were cut in a proto-historic period.

This was the 45th consecutive excavation campaign at the Final Bronze Age settlement of Sorgenti della Nove (Farnese, VT). This year, the excavations were concentrated in sector XIII, where investigations began in 2015. This sector is constituted by a narrow section of sloping rock, identified as a road, onto which face three artificial grottoes (nos. 51, 52, 53). The excavations began in the easternmost one, Grotto 51, and its investigation was concluded this year. The cavity is formed of a single chamber inside which the modern occupation levels and the abandonment layer obliterated two medieval occupation layers, the earliest of which represented by a wall built of tufa blocks bonded with mortar that closed the space. The removal of these layers revealed a floor surface on which structures attributable to the proto-historic period were present, which may have been part of a system for collecting water and draining it towards the exterior. The area in front of the grotto was not a terrace, as supposed at the beginning of the investigations, but a sloping road, in which three small channels and numerous postholes had been cut during the proto-historic period. Others could not be dated but the materials present in the fills dates their disuse to the medieval period. There was evidence of a collapsed vault in the south-eastern corner of the sector. Therefore, it seems plausible to suggest the existence of another series of structures that probably faced on to a lower terrace. A second intervention took place in the westward extension of the sector, beginning the investigation of Grotto 52. This decision was based on the continuation of the stratigraphy in section and the presence of the new grotto in the south corner of the area. In fact, Grotto 52 and the area in front of it were occupied by a substantial stratigraphy, which needed to be removed in order to excavate the underlying grotto in the future. This new area presented a situation that had already been seen, with a modern beaten earth floor surface inside the grotto and to the exterior, which obliterated the abandonment layer formed by a natural collapse situated in front of the grotto and in correspondence with the entrance. Inside the cave, the removal of the abandonment levels revealed a beaten earth floor surface, not yet removed, probably relating to a medieval phase. It will only be possible to understand this stratigraphy with the continuation of the investigations, which should also clarify the layout of this grotto complex, the road in front of it and the different occupation phases.