Poggio Colla - Scavi Etruschi

The site of Poggio Colla has preserved undisturbed Etruscan habitation layers; it appears to have been inhabited by the Etruscans at least in the 7th century BC and was abandoned or destroyed by the end of the 3rd century BC. The site suffered a violent destruction and was rebuilt during the Hellenistic period. The initial excavations at Poggio Colla were led by Francesco Nicosia from 1968 to 1972. Since 1995, the site has been annually excavated by the Mugello Valley Archaeological Project (MVAP) under the direction of P. Gregory Warden and Michael Thomas, sponsored by Southern Methodist University and the University of Pennsylvania. The excavations have revealed fortification walls, a necropolis area, and the remains of an archaic monumental building (possibly a temple). Faunal remains recovered at Poggio Colla mainly include bovine, ovine, caprine, and porcine remains, as well as remains of dogs and wild species. Similar faunal assemblages have also been found in other Etruscan settlements. In 2001, at the western end of the acropolis of Poggio Colla, a black enamel olpe containing one hundred Roman victoriati in silver was discovered. The finding is significant as it was found within the context of a sanctuary, and this olpe was buried after the sanctuary was destroyed at the end of the 3rd century BC. The use of a rounded molding at the base of monumental tombs, temples, and altars is a characteristic of Etruscan architecture and remained consistent between the 6th and 2nd centuries BC in various Etruscan cities. A large number of roof tiles from the monumental structure of the acropolis of Poggio Colla and the workshop/farmstead of Podere Funghi have been uncovered during the ongoing excavations. This excavation has led to two very significant archaeological discoveries: a stone stele and a decorated ceramic fragment. The stele is evidence of a permanent religious cult with monumental dedications, at least from the late archaic period, around 525 to 480 BC. Its reuse in the foundations of a slightly later sanctuary structure indicates profound changes in the city and its social structure. Weighing 226.8 kg and standing about 1.2 m tall, the stele features approximately 120 Etruscan characters along its sides, making it the source of one of the longest inscriptions in the Etruscan language, which has puzzled scholars since its initial discovery. The inscription attests that Uni was the main recipient of worship and sacrifice at the sacred site of Poggio Colla. The second significant discovery was a bucchero fragment with a decoration depicting a small image of a woman giving birth, crouching but without the child. Other Etruscan scenes combine the crouching pose with a series of animals, suggesting an association with the "Mistress of Animals." When considering its context - a redeposited occupation layer of a settlement dating to the end of the orientalizing period - along with its iconography, it becomes possible to interpret the images as alluding to concepts of fertility and reproduction linked to the power of nature and regeneration, all elements that would have been appropriate in the context of an Etruscan banquet attended by elite men and women. The stele is on display at the Archaeological Museum of Dicomano. The excavations are currently on hold, and the site has been closed awaiting any further excavation campaigns.