Podcast by eArs 

Archaeological area of Poggio Gramignano

Narrator: We often forget  that alongside 'History' with a capital 'H', there runs a parallel history, which is made up of stories of ordinary women and men. The site of Poggio Gramignano, in the municipality of Lugnano in Teverina, actually sheds light on some of these stories. You will be guided through them by the archaeologist Roberto Montagnetti, who is in charge of the excavations.

Roberto Montagnetti: From the hill overlooking the Tiber valley where the archaeological remains are located, You can admire the peaks of the Amiata and Soratte mountains, stretching all the way to the Argentario promontory. A landscape that has remained incredibly intact over the millennia to the present day. A Roman villa rustica, which dates back to the middle of the 1st century B.C.E., used to stand in front of this fascinating view.We do not know the identity of the original owner, but we can deduce from the excavation work that this person used to live with the family in luxurious and well-decorated rooms. The servants, on the other hand, resided in a side wing of the villa, which also housed some service rooms dedicated to agricultural activities.

N: If you are wondering what an elegant residence of Roman times must have looked like, your curiosity can be satisfied by visiting this archaeological site. Thanks to the 3D reconstruction of the interior and exterior spaces offered by Tiber Pallia Immersive Discoveries, for a moment you will feel like a guest of the dominus of the house, thus breaking down the temporal distance that separates you from these distant eras. What more can we say about who inhabited the villa?

RM: An interesting discovery was made in 2018: a tile from the late 4th century bearing the name Leonzius, a member of the Gens Leoniana. This name is strikingly similar to that of Lugnano. What if this family owned all the land on which the village would later be founded? The hypothesis is suggestive.

N: In addition, other findings have made this archaeological area a unique place...

RM: Indeed. In some disused service rooms of the villa, a cemetery... of children was discovered, which can be dated back to the years between 415 and 435 C.E. The place contains as many as sixty graves with the remains of both foetuses and older children, all between zero and three years of age, with the sole exception of a girl aged between eight and twelve. The burials, which were made in different ways but always with great care, included objects of everyday life, such as small plates and amphorae, and even a bone doll with jointed limbs. All these artefacts are currently on display in the Civic Museum of Lugnano. Given the proximity to the Tiber, it is likely that these young lives were taken by malaria.

N: However, the children were not left alone while crossing the threshold into the afterlife.

RM: For this journey, they could count on their best friends, such as puppies whose bones were placed inside the graves. The dog was in fact considered the guardian of the home, but also of the passage between life and death. 

N: After the burial phase, there are no other traces. The site was abandoned until its rediscovery.It is now up to the archaeologists, and to those like us who know the story of this ancient place, to preserve its memory for the future...

N: You have listened to Tiber Pallia Stories, a podcast created by Italy’s National Strategy for Inner Areas - South West Orvieto Area. The podcast was produced by Capitale Cultura Group and Artglass.Texts, voice-over, music, and post-production were designed and produced by eArs.
We would like to thank the Umbria Region, the Municipality of Lugnano in Teverina and archaeologist Roberto Montagnetti, who joined us...

Podcast by eArs 

Necropolis of the San Lorenzo valley

Narrator: The necropolis of the San Lorenzo Valley emerges from the past surrounded by an enchanting landscape, right in the centre of Umbria's three most important ancient cities, namely Orvieto, Todi and Amelia. Archaeologist Stefano Spiganti, who is in charge of the excavations, will join us on this visit.

Stefano Spiganti: The site was built from the 7th century B.C.E. onwards in a particularly permeable area, where the trade between two peoples of pre-Roman Italy - Etruscans and Umbrians - was favoured by the passage of the Tiber river, as well as by an important road artery that connected the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic coasts. In such a vital spot, this necropolis, namely a burial site, could not have been the only sign of human presence! Next to the city of the dead, there must have been the city... of the living; but where was it? We are still looking for it. From our assumptions, it must have been a thriving village, inhabited by a thousand people.

N: The Etruscans skilfully adapted the necropolis to the rugged terrain along the side of a ditch. A true masterpiece of adaptation to the environment. 

SS: That's right. Almost a thousand tombs were excavated with technical skill in the compact sand that forms the northern wall of the deep San Lorenzo ditch. They are laid out in parallel rows to the course of the river, and in turn are arranged along interconnected terraces. The tombs consisted of a single chamber or two rooms, so as to collect the remains of entire families. We have unearthed a great number of grave goods from the darkness of past millennia, consisting of pottery and other objects of everyday life, which are indicative of a dynamic and fairly egalitarian society. The remains of three generations of citizens were laid to rest in the Valley over a period of 200 years, up to around 350 B.C.E. After this date, a gradual decline began, ending with the complete abandonment of the site.

N: Which was the cause?

SS: It was caused by the gradual expansion of the Romans into these territories, which ended with the conquest of Orvieto in 264 B.C.E. Not only that, the Roman conquerors plundered the tombs and took away the most precious objects.

N: Let's get back to the necropolis. One discovery in particular surprised archaeologists.

SS: In 2019, we found a tomb that was different from the others... it wasn't excavated, but built with large blocks of travertine. It contained a great number of grave goods, among which a sceptre stood out. It was the eternal resting place of an Etruscan prince-priest! His high-class status was confirmed by the presence of the bones of some large animals that were offered as a sacrifice - such as sheep, cattle and pigs - which usually were sacrificed only for major public festivals.

N: These ancient rituals have been reconstructed with virtual reality, which is available to the visitors of the necropolis. But that's not all. Who wouldn't want to experience the thrill of such a discovery? Tiber Pallia Immersive Discoveries will certainly be of great help! Imagine going back in time until you see the tomb of the prince-priest materialise completely intact before your eyes! It will be like reliving with your own eyes the stories that this extraordinary place is still able to tell.

N: You have listened to Tiber Pallia Stories, a podcast created by Italy’s National Strategy for Inner Areas - South West Orvieto Area. The podcast was produced by Capitale Cultura Group and Artglass.
Texts, voice-over, music, and post-production were designed and produced by eArs.
We would like to thank the Umbria Region, the Municipality of Montecchio, the university: Università degli Studi di Perugia,  and archaeologist Stefano Spiganti,...

Podcast by eArs 

Archaeological area of Coriglia

Narrator: What does a traveller want? Today as in the past, a place to rest after a long journey.Imagine being a wealthy dignitary of the Roman Empire. For hours you have been following the route of the Via Cassia or the Traiana Nova, travelling between the towns of Bolsena and Chiusi. At one point, in the distance, you finally see a mansio, a roadside station: you have just reached Coriglia! 
The archaeologist Silvia Simonetti, who is in charge of the excavations, will go on with the story.

Silvia Simonetti: Coriglia was the perfect place to stop and rest. In fact, starting from the late Republican period - between the 2nd and 1st century B.C.E. - the mansio was built on an artificial terrace that overlooked a bight of the Paglia river. Prior to this, the Etruscans had built a rural sanctuary in the same area, which was possibly dedicated to underground deities connected with water. In this area, due to the presence of both the river and the thermal springs, which are still very active and not far from the site, water has always played a leading role over the centuries. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the settlement presents traces of visitors that cover a very long period of time, ranging from the end of the 8th century B.C.E. - the time of the Etruscans - up to the Middle Ages.

N: However, staying in this mansio was not for everyone, it was actually an exclusive pleasure.

SS: Yes, because travellers had to pay in order to be hosted, but the service was really comprehensive. While skilled craftsmen took care of horses and chariots, the sutlers descended into the underground storerooms to get wine and food. Consequently, the wealthy guests only needed to reach the pools and enjoy the benefits of sulphurous waters. It is possible that in the haste of diving, one of the guests might have slipped a small treasure off his finger, which was recently found. A rare bronze ring with the inscription 'Rome', datable to the 2nd century C.E., which probably belonged to an eminent figure of the imperial circle. In addition to this, more than 300 coins were found at the entrance of the place. These numismatic finds prove that the mansio was active over a period of time that covers much of Rome's history, ranging from the late republic to the mid-4th century C.E.

N: It is well known that the Romans were particularly pleasure-seeking and loved relaxation and personal care, but today's public should not expect to find an ancient spa when visiting Coriglia!After the excavation work, it is quite difficult to identify the different historical phases. The traces of the Etruscan period, for example, are more difficult to interpret, while the Roman vestiges can be recognised more easily. Thanks to Tiber Pallia Immersive Discoveries, technology comes to the aid of the visitors, so that they can immerse themselves - not in the thermal baths - but in the virtual reconstruction of our mansio, also with a chance to understand the experience of travelling in the Roman age.
At the end of the 4th century, when the route of the Traiana Nova lost its importance, also the mansio closed its doors. What happened next?

SS: Once again, it was water that brought life to this place, which at the time returned to be populated thanks to new production activities. As a matter fact, the first kiln in the area of Castel Viscardo was established here, a place that still today represents an excellence in the production of cotto bricks.

N: Water and... fire!

N: You have listened to Tiber Pallia Stories, a podcast created by Italy’s National Strategy for Inner Areas - South West Orvieto Area. The podcast was produced by Capitale Cultura Group and Artglass.Texts, voice-over, music, and post-production were designed and...

Podcast by eArs 

Archaeological area of Crocifisso del Tufo

Narrator: What defines a city? The roads? The houses? Well, not only that... you also need some spaces for public, civic and sacred institutions. In Orvieto, the complex process of urbanisation was generated by profound social changes. The necropolis of Crocifisso del Tufo, built on the northern slopes of Orvieto's cliff, reflects an urban restructuring driven by social change. Let's talk about this with Giorgio Rocca, Director of the National Archaeological Museum of Orvieto.

Giorgio Rocca: This Etruscan necropolis possibly dates back to the 8th century B.C.E. and is a sign of the presence of a settlement - which we cannot yet call a 'city' - in the area of today's Orvieto. During this first phase, the power was concentrated in the hands of a small circle of aristocrats. However, in the first half of the 6th century B.C.E., a radical change occurred. The wealthy middle classes, committed to handicrafts and trade, together with the more active enlightened aristocratic classes, succeeded in overthrowing the small aristocratic elite that dominated until then. The settlement was then founded on new principles that reflected a more democratic and egalitarian community. The actual city was born. 
Unfortunately, we have no clues on how Orvieto - or, rather, Vèlsena - was structured in the 6th century B.C.E. However, if it is true that the city of the dead was similar to the city of the living, maybe we can get an idea by observing the necropolis of Crocifisso del Tufo.After sweeping away most of the older circular mausoleums, which represented a legacy of the hated oligarchy, the citizens reorganised the necropolis with new chamber tombs, similar to houses, that were laid out along straight streets to form an orthogonal grid, almost like a city...

N: An architectural organisation with a unifying character, designed according to a master plan set by the new urban authority, which expressed equality between citizens. But were there still any differences?

GR: Yes, of course. Each tomb hides grave goods of different quantity and value, depending on the economic possibilities of the deceased. In one of them, for example, the householder of a wealthy family was deposed together with his relatives. Later, we know that the tomb was reopened to accommodate a sarcophagus with the remains of an elderly woman and some poor grave goods. There was speculation that she might have been a servant, perhaps a nurse, who was particularly dear to the family. Certainly, a sign of deep affection, but also of clear economic and social distinction!

N: Another peculiarity of this necropolis is that the tombs... can speak!

GR: Not only that: it is actually the tombs themselves that tell us who they belonged to! At the entrance, each architrave bears an inscription where it is always possible to recognise the particle 'MI', which means 'I', in the sense of 'I am of', followed by a name: Lartia Ulkena Verturuscle, Avile Lauceia, Velka Laisece... It is almost as if the tomb is talking in the first person saying 'I belong to this individual'.
There are also names of people who came from other regions: Umbrians, Oscans, Samnites, Latins and Gauls, who immigrated to Orvieto and integrated into the local middle class. 

N: If you cannot read Etruscan you should not be afraid. Tiber Pallia Immersive Discoveries will be there to help you. In addition to the 3D reconstruction of a tomb complete with grave goods, the virtual adventure will allow you to read these interesting inscriptions and experience the thrill of interpreting this ancient language. By the end, someone might just mistake you for a real Etruscan!

N: You have listened to Tiber Pallia Stories, a podcast created by Italy’s National Strategy for Inner Areas -...

Podcast by eArs 

Archaeological area of Campo della Fiera

Narrator: Did you know the Etruscans believed there was a corner of heaven on earth? A long inscription found on the base of a statue, which is currently preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Orvieto, described it as a 'heavenly place'. We are talking of Campo della Fiera.
Simonetta Stopponi, Professor at the University of Perugia, will tell us the secrets of this very important site.

Simonetta Stopponi: This 'heavenly place', also known as Fanum Voltumnae, is well described by ancient sources, including the Roman historian Titus Livius, and for centuries people have been searching for it. Today we can state with certainty that we finally found it in an area south-east of Orvieto, and we are still studying it with the support of scholars from all over the world.In this area, which was the site of a small rural place of worship, the Etruscan tyrant Porsenna decided to build a grandiose sanctuary between the late 6th and early 5th century B.C.E Due to its importance, representatives of the twelve major Etruscan cities met there regularly, making it a federal sanctuary. The Etruscans, even though they recognised themselves as a single people, were organised into independent city-states. During the political and religious assemblies, the sanctuary came alive with people from all over Etruria and beyond, who arrived for the celebration of sacred rites, but also to visit markets or to enjoy athletic games and theatrical performances.

N: Although Orvieto was the dominant settlement, a federal sanctuary, as a neutral place, needed to be located outside the city. The chosen site had strategic characteristics: it was flat and well connected to the Tiber river, to Chiusi, and to the large Etruscan cities on the Tyrrhenian coast.

SS: The sacred buildings were organised around a long processional way, ending with the main temple dedicated to Veltune, called Vertumnus by the Latins, a god connected with the cycle of seasons.After the Roman conquest of Orvieto in 264 B.C.E, the sanctuary lost its importance. In fact, the Romans welcomed Vertumnus into their pantheon, thus moving his cult to Rome. The Etruscans took it badly, and in revenge for this divine about-turn, they turned the temple into a ceramic workshop, while continuing the veneration of other deities in smaller temples.

N: However, Rome did not forget this place...

SS: That's true! Under Emperor Augustus, the site saw a period of great renovation with embellishment and restoration works. The ancient Etruscan architecture was dismantled to build the baths and a prestigious domus, which was characterised by a large room where the magistrates used to meet. Then, almost a century later, Emperor Hadrian wanted to leave his mark with new baths decorated with mosaics.The rise of Christianity completely supplanted pagan practices; it was a change of cult, but one that never stopped people from visiting the place, as they kept coming uninterruptedly until the 18th century: some 2,300 years after its founding!

N: How can today's visitors understand such a complex history? Don't worry, Tiber Pallia Immersive Discoveries will allow you to literally step into each different era, thus observing with your own eyes the virtual 3D reconstruction of the evolution of the structure over time. Thanks to the new technology available, you will be able to better understand the past, or rather experience it, almost as if you were living it. Now all you have to do is to... pack your bags for a journey through archaeology!

N: You have listened to Tiber Pallia Stories, a podcast created by Italy’s National Strategy for Inner Areas - South West Orvieto Area. The podcast was produced by Capitale Cultura Group and Artglass.Texts, voice-over, music, and...

Podcast by eArs 

Tiber Pallia Stories - Introduction

Travellers of every century, welcome to Tiber Pallia Stories, the podcast created as part of Italy’s National Strategy for Inner Areas, dedicated to the archaeological sites of the Orvietano-Amerino area. An extraordinary territory between Umbria, Tuscany, and Lazio - the unexplored heart of the Italian peninsula that once belonged to ancient Etruria. It was here that the Etruscan and Roman civilisations flourished for centuries. Places of worship, roads, urban infrastructures and necropolises have been brought to light thanks to the tireless work of archaeologists who studied and interpreted the findings of this era.
Throughout the episodes of our podcast, we will take you on a journey to discover some of the sites in this area, which was one of the most important of inland Etruria.
And we will not be alone! In each one of the five episodes, we will be joined by the voices of the experts who are in charge of the excavations. We will explore with them the necropolises of Crocifisso del Tufo and of the San Lorenzo Valley, and then soak up the sacred atmosphere of the Etruscan federal sanctuary at Campo della Fiera. In case you get tired, we will stop for a while at the Roman rest area at Coriglia, while in Poggio Gramignano we will relive the splendour of a Roman house, or domus, where an unexpected burial site was found. Whether you are planning your itinerary among the archaeological sites of central Italy, or you are simply curious to learn more about the subject, this is the podcast for you! The visitors will not be disappointed: as a matter of fact, these sites are still alive today thanks to the new immersive technology developed by Tiber Pallia Immersive Discoveries. Thanks to augmented reality and virtual reality, 3D reconstructions, stories and immersive animations will materialise in front of you for a real dive into the past!

Our podcast and the technological innovations of Tiber Pallia Immersive Discoveries, created with the support of Capitale Cultura Group and ArtGlass, are part of a broader project of enhancement and rebirth of the territory in the Inner South-West Area of Orvieto, which includes 19 municipalities in Umbria. This project was made possible thanks to Italy’s National Strategy for Inner Areas: an innovative and multi-sectoral policy that aims to strengthen and revitalise territories that are rich in history and culture, thus counteracting the phenomena of demographic decline and promoting fair and sustainable development.But now, enough with the introductions! Saddle up and get ready to turn back the clock. Be sure to tune in to the next episodes of Tiber Pallia Stories, where a journey through time among the thousand facets of a unique land is waiting for you... let's go!