Categoria: Impero Project
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Between Hills and Horizons: A Week in Italy
This past week in Italy unfolded between landscapes and conversations, from the serene setting of the Monastery of Siloe to the alpine air of Trento. At Siloe, I had the privilege of speaking once again about the excavations at Alberese, a project born out of friendship and the shared desire…
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Rediscovering Spolverino: A Late Roman Manufacturing Hub in the Maremma
Between 2010 and 2014, the Alberese Archaeological Project carried out excavations at Spolverino, the second of three sites investigated within the Parco della Maremma, alongside the sanctuary of Diana Umbronensis at Scoglietto and the riverside settlement of Umbro Flumen. The site presented significant logistical difficulties. Located near the last bend…
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Where Time Sleeps in Stone: A Journey to Castello di Vicarello
Hidden in the hills of southern Tuscany, not far from the village of Cinigiano, lies the Castello di Vicarello—a place where centuries of history and the elegance of modern comfort blend into a single, unforgettable experience. Once a medieval fortress guarding the Ombrone Valley, Vicarello has a long and storied…
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Castellaraccio 2025: New Evidence, Earlier Origins
As the 2025 excavation campaign comes to an end, the site of Castellaraccio di Monteverdi has yielded new certainties—and promises even greater surprises in the near future. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of professional archaeologists, we were able to clarify the site’s occupational phases with greater precision by combining stratigraphic…
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A Groundbreaking Study on the Medieval Cemetery of Rusellae
Yesterday, at Michigan State University, Alexis Goots successfully defended her PhD dissertation on the medieval cemetery of Rusellae. As a member of her committee, I had the privilege of engaging with her research—a project I collaborated on alongside Prof. Todd Fenton. Her dissertation presents groundbreaking and innovative data on human…
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New Scholarship!
I’m excited to announce the recent publication of a paper in the Journal of Fasti Online, detailing the latest findings from the excavations at Castellaraccio di Monteverdi. This work highlights new insights into the settlement’s medieval architecture, daily life, and adaptive use of space within the Ombrone Valley. The paper…
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A Golden Crown
In March 2021, during agricultural work, an archaeological discovery near the Hellenistic settlement of Podere Cannicci unearthed a remarkably well-preserved 2nd century BC burial. The tomb, found completely intact, contained the remains of two individuals, each interred in separate urns. These urns were accompanied by an array of grave goods…
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Castellaraccio di Monteverdi
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of excavating numerous archaeological sites, both within Italy and internationally. A significant number of these sites were medieval castles, situated on the rugged hills of Tuscany. This experience influenced my decision to specialize in medieval archaeology rather than classical archaeology. I have…
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New Scholarship
A new piece of scholarship is available on the riverine port at Spolverino, a Roman manufacturing district and related harbor for the city of Rusellae. If interested, just click here!
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Casenovole
Collaborating closely with local communities facilitates access to sites and locations otherwise inaccessible to the public. A pertinent example is the Castle of Casenovole, situated a few kilometers from Casal di Pari and Castellaraccio di Monteverdi. Documented as a fief of the Ardengheschi family in the early 13th century, Casenovole’s…
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Demons and Tombs
Currently, the excavations at the late Etruscan and Hellenistic necropolis of Casenovole have resumed. This excavation holds significant personal importance to me, both due to my profound friendship with Andrea Marcocci and the remarkable findings that have emerged from their investigations since 2007. Introducing students to this forested site and…
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A Stone Weight
Excavating any settlement invariably leads to surprises and the discovery of intriguing objects. Often, these finds are tools or everyday items, occasionally so corroded or fragmented that discerning their original function is challenging. This difficulty is compounded with older artifacts, which are increasingly estranged from our visual and cultural memory.…
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Classical Castles (?)
Tuscan castles are now commonly imagined as bastions of noble power; from their lofty towers, these families controlled vast swaths of territory, managing their fiefs’ economy and culture while imposing a strict social hierarchy. These power centers, established in the 10th century AD and frequently mentioned in written sources from…
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Coins and Historical Records
In 2019, during excavations at Castellaraccio di Monteverdi, a collection of newly minted silver coins was unearthed at the base of a collapse layer. Historical records provide a narrative of the site’s history, albeit from a selective and privileged perspective. These records indicate that by the end of the 13th…
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Paganico
Since 2017, Paganico’s historical narrative has become closely intertwined with the research initiative under my direction. Previously, my traversal of Paganico en route to Monte Amiata was merely transitory, devoid of extended pauses. However, recent years have witnessed a notable transformation. The excavation efforts at Castellaraccio afford us a nuanced…
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Podere Cannicci
Podere Cannicci stands as an emblematic archaeological site nestled within the prestigious Monteverdi Estate, owned by the Giannuzzi Savelli family. Its accidental unearthing in 1989 amid the installation of a gas pipeline marked the commencement of its archaeological exploration, a journey that gained momentum in 2017. As excavations expanded, the…
Alessandro Sebastiani 