Situated near the final bend of the Ombrone River, the Roman manufacturing district at Spolverino was systematically excavated between 2010 and 2014. The investigations uncovered a highly organized industrial complex, primarily dedicated to metal and glass recycling, and supported by a series of ancillary structures, including a communal kitchen and a food storage room, reflecting the scale and complexity of the site’s operations.
The complex was established during the reign of Domitian (late 1st century CE) and remained in use until the second half of the 5th century CE. Following its abandonment, parts of the site were briefly reused with modest, makeshift structures, before the area was repurposed as a small burial ground.
Radiocarbon (C14) analyses carried out on skeletal remains have dated the cemetery to the Lombard period, shedding light on the site’s continuity and transformation during the early medieval era.
Remarkably, the entire site was sealed beneath 2.5 meters of alluvial clay, which ensured its exceptional state of preservation. The associated material cultureโranging from industrial debris to domestic artifactsโis currently undergoing detailed analysis, offering rare insights into the economic, technological, and social dynamics of a late Roman productive hub in central Italy.
References
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Interconnected Mobility of People and Economy along the River Ombrone 