Archaeological excavations have resumed at the submerged site of Lake Mezzano, a small basin of crater origin located within the Latera caldera near the western edge of Lake Bolsena (in the province of Viterbo). The intervention concerns theprotohistoric pile-dwelling settlement, datable between the Early Bronze Age and the Recent Bronze Age, a context that had already attracted the attention of archaeologists and scholars in the past.
The village was first identified in the winter of 1971 by geologist Lamberto Ferri Ricchi, who recognized the wooden remains of a pile-dwelling structure at the bottom of the lake. The discovery led, two years later, to the start of the first systematic investigations. In 1973, in fact, archaeological excavation campaigns began, followed by cycles of research conducted between 1983 and 1996 by the Soprintendenza Archeologica per l’Etruria Meridionale. The investigations produced extensive and thorough documentation, which is now well present in the relevant literature, helping to delineate the physiognomy of the settlement. After a long period of suspension, the research was reactivated thanks to new funding obtained by the Superintendence under Law 190. The work is being conducted by the Underwater Archaeology Service, under the direction of Barbara Barbaro, an underwater archaeologist with specific training in the field of protohistory.
The first phase of the project focuses on the complete mapping of the seabed. For this, Sub Bottom Profiler technology is used, a tool that allows obtaining three-dimensional images of the submerged terrain and accurately locating buried structures. Subsequently, outcropping piles will be surveyed and placed, and then targeted excavations will be carried out in areas that, according to preliminary reconstructions, have not yet been investigated in the past. The goal is to expand knowledge of the site, which has already been well studied in its general characteristics but is still capable of providing unpublished data. The underwater work is also carried out under conditions that are not easy.
Reduced visibility is one of the main difficulties: every movement of divers raises sediment that clouds the water and makes safe operation complex. Water clarifiers, devices that reduce the suspension of particles, are used to limit the problem. Temperature is also an obstacle. Although on the surface the weather is still summer, with about 30 degrees, the water column leads to a sudden drop in temperature: at the level of the archaeological remains the temperature stabilizes around 14 degrees.
The Underwater Archaeology Service involves a team of specialists with diverse skills. Among them, Assistant Technician Egidio Severi coordinates topographical survey operations and photogrammetry, fundamental tools for accurately documenting underwater structures. Honorary Inspector for Underwater Archaeology Massimo Lozzi takes care of photographic and video documentation, while assistant Maria Bruno actively participates in excavation operations. Dario D’Amico, also an assistant, collaborates in the operational phases.
The restoration of the materials was entrusted to the firm CSR Restauro Beni Culturali, directed by Riccardo Mancinelli, which works in close collaboration with underwater archaeologist Simone Falqui. To ensure the safety of the operations, architect Massimiliano Ena, also a professional diver, was also involved, overseeing aspects related to the protection of personnel involved in the dives. A key support role is also played by the Aliquota Carabinieri Subacquei di Roma, which provides constant assistance both in the water and on the surface, helping to maintain high safety standards.
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| Excavations resume in the submerged protohistoric settlement of Lake Mezzano in Viterbo |
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