Today was the first day in a while that we could finally work until 5 pm. The rain only came down at lunchtime, leaving us free to dig. In Area 1000, we continued removing the lowest part of the collapse 44, while a couple of people started to expose the tile collapse with their trowels in the southern part of the room where it was already emerging. Since we now have some extra hands, we send a small team under Michelle’s and Ryan’s leadership to Area 4000. Here we have located an internal tower along the southern curtain wall. Ryan and Janette took over this job, cleaning the space from the vegetation and exposing the walls again. With Michelle’s help, they cleared the section of the curtain wall (here, very poorly preserved), revealing what looks like to be the connection between the “tower” and the curtain. It was immediately clear how the curtain was built with a yellowish mortar, while the “tower” used a yellowish clay, similar to the one found in other walls, like 16 in Area 1000. To understand the building sequence, we must excavate and better expose the structure’s walls over the following days. The presence of this “tower” might also indicate the proximity of a gate or a postern gate, which will help us define the castle’s “road” system.
Interconnected Mobility of People and Economy along the River Ombrone 