Today, old and new friends of the IMPERO Archaeological Project gathered at Podere Cannicci to begin another season of research. The project’s director, Professor Alessandro Sebastiani, began the morning’s activities with an introduction to the site and its excavation history for all members of the project, after which the team split into two, with a group headed to Castellaraccio and the others remaining in Cannicci’s valley.
Under the direction of Professor Edoardo Vanni, the laborers at Cannicci were first briefed by site supervisors Michael McCabe and Betsy Woldeyohannes on the principles of stratigraphy, data recording, and equipment use before we turned our efforts toward cleaning Area 1. Michael and Betsy first led the team in clearing the area of water retained from recent heavy rains as well as the tarps protecting the northern half of the site; after this, we were able to begin weeding, troweling, and sweeping the drier zones of the complex starting from the eastern end of the site. Although afternoon showers prevented us from completing our cleaning efforts, the participants’ eagerness to engage in the work has made us hopeful that we will achieve our goal of finishing excavations for Area 1, begun in 2017, and the area’s final documentation. While this group labored, Edo and site supervisor Marta De Pari, assisted by Cesare with the digger, reinitiated investigation around the necropolis, which was first uncovered in 2020. After only the first day, these two tasks in tandem have inspired excitement in the students and staff about the discoveries ahead!
Interconnected Mobility of People and Economy along the River Ombrone 