Il santuario dell’acropoli nella prima età ellenistica: nuovi dati dalle recenti indagini

The chronological-structural sequence of the sanctuary of the acropolis of Volterra, well defined in the succession of phases thanks to the twenty-year research by Marisa Bonamici, still presented a stratigraphic gap related to the early Hellenistic age. This period represents a crucial historical moment of the city, involved in the advance of the Roman army in northern Etruria. During the last excavation campaign of the University of Pisa (2014), this gap was finally filled, having reached the levels of the second half of the 4th century BC. In particular, the archaeological exploration brought to light, still in situ, a nucleus of cups and bowls deposed ritually: this discovery has been interpreted as the residue of a collective libation made by devotees at a time immediately preceding the deactivation of the late-archaic temple, dating back to the second half of the 4th century BC. The upper deposit, in addition to having returned an extremely high number of painted architectural terracottas and high-quality Hellenistic pottery, local and imported, has also allowed to date the obliteration of the sacred building around 300 BC. These years coincide with the construction of the second urban wall circuit and with an alleged siege of the Roman army to the city of Volterra, handed down by the historical sources. Subsequently, during the 3rd century BC, this area was occupied by a series of courtyards used to host metallurgical activities and, finally, was definitively levelled for the construction of the temple A at the beginning of the 2nd century BC.