EH VIII

(Tom Dawson, 1995)

Objectives

EH VIII was started outside the city wall at a point just below the castle in order to find a suitable deposit of refuse from the occupation of the castle and thereby increase our environmental and ceramic evidence.

Dimensions

The trench measured 2 x 5m.

Stratigraphy

After the removal of topsoil the excavators were confronted with a massive deposit of large stones, deriving, in all probability, from the collapse of the Roman city wall, which was probably destroyed at this point during the destruction of the city at the hands of the Sienese in 1328. The presence of a certain amount of maiolica in this layer supports this hypothesis. However, it was not possible to continue the excavation because of the impossibility of removing or digging around the largest of the boulders.