Bova Marina Archaeological Project - Department of Archaeology

features of unknown date and function may or may
not be associated.
Site 14 (Panaghia A, Areas 51, 55). Site,
ca. 0.5 ha? Roman. This site, reported to us by S.
Stranges and L. Saccà , is located on the western
side of the middle part of the San Pasquale valley.
Collections from Area 51, done in 1997, include a
variety of Roman commonwares and tile, probably
predominantly early imperial, and a fragment of a
fineware with a bright orange slip (possibly either
ARS chiara A or Eastern Sigillata B). When the
site was revisited in 1998, a trench had been dug in
the site, apparently for construction, which had cut
through a Roman structure with tile roof, brick
walls, and opus signinum (cocciopesto) floor before
being halted. In the disturbed ground around this
trench we collected more Roman artifacts,
including the base of an ARS bowl (chiara D
fabric) with feather-rouletting on the interior, dating
to the 5th or 6th century AD. We made a series of
controlled collections in the field extending north
of this trench (Area 55). For the most part these
collections produced little or no Roman material,
except for a low-density scatter about 100 meters
away from the structure. Thus, the site is apparently
fairly small, probably a single farm. The area to the
east is inaccessible, being fenced-off orange groves,
but it may be worthwhile to investigate how far the
artifact scatter extends to the southwest.
Site 15 (Agrillei, Area 52). Site, < 1 ha.
Prehistoric. This site is located on a small
promontory at the southern end of the Agrillei ridge
near the border between Bova Marina and Palizzi
Marina, overlooking the sea. The presence of a
prehistoric site here was reported to us by L. Saccà.
Collections in 1997 and 1998 produced a
significant quantity of prehistoric impasto sherds,
mostly from the southern face of the hill, just below
the crest. None of the fragments appear to be useful
chronological indicators. The presence of a flat area
at the summit and buried terrace walls eroding out
of the slope suggests modern earth-moving, so the
finds may not be in their original context. Several
probably Greek or Roman sherds indicate the
possibility of a Greek or Roman component as well,
but the quantity is not enough to rule out their being
background scatter.
Site 16 (Umbro B, Area 58). Site, ca. 0.4
ha. Prehistoric. This site is on a hill about 150
meters north of Site 9 at Umbro. The main
concentration of artifacts is on a small saddle of
land along the top of the hill and along the upper
northern face of the hill. Collections in 1998
produced a large quantity of prehistoric impasto;
the assemblage differs somewhat from the Neolithic
pottery at Site 9, particularly in the presence of a
slip on many fragments, but no obvious
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Bova Marina Archaeological Project 1999
chronological diagnostics were found. It is likely
that the assemblage is post-Neolithic, but
excavation may be needed to determine a more
specific date.
Site 17 (Limaca, Area 66). Scatter.
Prehistoric. On the northern slope of a rounded hill
east of Umbro we collected one impasto sherd and
one piece of worked flint. The quantity is too small
to demonstrate the existence of any concentration
that could be called a site, but ground visibility was
poor, so it may be that additional items were
missed.
Site 18 (Umbro C, Areas 24, 68, 130).
Site, 0.2 ha. Greek. The main concentration of finds
is in Area 24, which is the sloping top of a small
rocky outcrop. A less dense scatter of artifacts
occurs also in the adjoining areas. The finds include
black-gloss pottery, probably of the late 6th to early
5th century BC, as well as Greek commonwares
and tile. The small but fairly dense sherd scatter
suggests something like a small single farm site. A
few Roman sherds have been found in nearby areas
as well; it is not clear whether these relate to reuse
of this location or to some other, as yet unidentified
site.
Site 19 (Penitenzeria, Area 72). Scatter.
Prehistoric?, Greek. This area is a large, gently
sloping field on the large plateau extending west
and south from the rock outcrops at Umbro. A
small scatter of artifacts was collected from the
southern edge of Area 72. This included four
probable fragments of prehistoric impasto, all
nondiagnostic, as well as a fragment of Greek
black-gloss and some Greek or Roman
commonwares. This location should be revisited to
assess whether there is a significant artifact
concentration, and if so to determine its extent and
obtain more evidence of its date.
Site 20 (Buccisa A, Area 76). Scatter.
Greek/Roman? This area is an olive grove on the
south face of M. Buccisa. At the southern edge, a
dense concentration of Greek or Roman tile was
found. No definitely ancient pottery was found in
association with this tile. Thus, it is uncertain
whether this tile scatter is the result of an ancient
structure in this location or of reuse for building
modern terrace walls. Even in the latter case,
however, it is likely that the site the tile came from
should be nearby.
Site 21 (Buccisa B, Area 79). Scatter.
Prehistoric. In a small, level area at the foot of the
southwest end of M. Buccisa, a small scatter of
pottery was found in a cultivated field. Most was
modern, but three fragments of prehistoric impasto,
all nondiagnostic, were also present. This is unusual
for such a small area, and although this small