Aerial view of the manufacturing district at Spolverino
Located at the last bend of the Ombrone river, the Roman manufacturing district at Spolverino was excavated between 2010 and 2014. The excavations revealed a sophisticated complex dedicated to the recycling of metals and glass, and showed the presence of a number of auxiliary structures such as a communal kitchen and a room for storing food.
The site was built sometimes during the reign of Domitian and was abandoned during the second half of the 5th c. AD. Soon after, some of the rooms were used with humble structures before a small necropolis was installed.
Sealed under 2.5 meters of alluvial clay, the site was perfectly preserved and the material culture is currently under research.
References
Sebastiani A. and Derrick T. 2016. Note on the glass workshops and glass assemblage from Spolverino (Alberese – GR). Journal of Glass Studies 58: 279-286.
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Cygielman M., Chirico E., Colombini M. and Sebastiani A. (eds) 2011. Dinamiche insediative alla foce del fiume Ombrone: il porto di cabotaggio di Rusellae a Spolverino (Alberese – GR), Notiziario della Soprintendenza Archeologica della Toscana 6: 10-30.
Interconnected Mobility of People and Economy along the River Ombrone 