After a challenging start to the season because of the rain and the cold, last week we were able to excavate every day. Now we are dealing with the heat. To avoid the worst of it we are leaving for the field at 5:30 am and working until 12:30 pm; fortunately our favorite bar in Castiglione del Lago opens at 5:30!

Efforts in the central area of the site have focused on the building first identified in 2017. Our hypothesis about the function of this structure changed several times over the course of the week: at first we thought we might have a production area, possibly for wine or oil; but after removing several strata of accumulated fill, it now appears that we may have a dining area with decorative wall plaster inserted into niches that alternate with large pilasters

In the Middle Ages at least part of this building was still visible because we evidence of a robber trench on the north side.

Work also continues in the area of the bath house. We are still working through late (probably Medieval) re-use of the area. However, some notable finds have come from that part of the site, including a nicely carved marble cornice and several examples of nearly complete tubuli – the ceramic pipes the Romans used to heat their buildings. Charlie Locke shows off one example here:

The students are all working hard and learning new skills, such as how to wield a pick-axe properly:

As well as the more delicate work of cleaning the cocciopesto (plaster decoration) on the walls:

At the end of the week, our friends at the Trasimeno Sailing Club invited us for evening on Lago Trasimeno. A perfect ending to an exciting week. We are looking forward to what next week will bring.