Submitted for award of PhD September 2006. - King's College London

associated with urban planning and fit nicely with the idea of a Roman oppidum. For
example, traces of a modest residential district have been found within the walled
area of Curino. One particular building shows signs that point to public use: it was
provided with a frontal portico with wooden columns, cisterns and a semicircular
podium. 158
La Regina called it a basilica. Associated pottery finds suggest that it was
built in the third century BC. 159 Near this building, the remains of a small temple
have been found. The temple, with its simple plan and Doric stone columns,
dated to the third century BC, but it continued in use until the imperial period.
has been
The site of Monte Vairano was relatively large: its impressive polygonal walls
surrounded an area of 49 hectares. It was accessible through three gates: the south
gate, the west gate, and the so-called Victoria gate. At the Victoria gate remains of
two towers can be seen. Private houses were built in stone along the paved street that
leads in from the south gate. One of these has been named the 'house of `LN" on the
basis of the Oscan graffiti on pottery found on the site. The finds include several
cups, two large barrels, dishes, loom-weights, a mortar, lanterns and styli. The
material remains of this house give the impression of a well-equipped household not
inferior to parallels in Roman or other Italic areas. In the centre of this hill-fort traces
of another stone building and of a well have been found. The excavators also
discovered three kilns, one inside the wall next to the Victoria gate, and two others
located just outside the walls. 160 There are another two buildings, whose function
cannot be identified, although one of them shows similarities to a building in the
sacred area of Vastogirardi. 16' Around a hundred fragments of Rhodian amphorae
Curino and Monte Civitalta (Alfedena), Castellone/Civitella (Frosolone), Terravecchia (Saepinum)
and Monte Verrante were of suitable size for permanent occupation.
iss Mariani (1902) 518.
159 Cianfarani, Franchi dell'Orto, La Regina (1978) 319. La Regina (1976) 223.
160 De Benedittis (1990) 116. De Benedittis (1980) 337-41.
161 De Benedittis (1991 a) 129.
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