A Roman cistern has been recently discovered (again!) by the Impero Project team. Located on a hilltop facing the modern road to Montalcino, the cistern is quite well preserved, although a thick layer of rubbles has backfilled its interior.
The perimeter walls are built with regular stone blocks, rectangular in shape and bonded with solid mortar. The dome of the cistern is provided by a very thick layer of cocciopesto, a waterproof mixture of white mortar and smashed clay bricks. On the top of the dome two different holes provide a possible later access to the cistern.
In the next coming days the Impero Project team will proceed to plan the cistern and to take the final measurements of the building.
The Roman cistern
The Roman cistern
Interconnected Mobility of People and Economy along the River Ombrone 