Archaeological Monographs of the British School at Rome
3 primary works
Book 7
This is the first of a number of volumes describing the 1980-86 excavations at the early medieval Benedictine abbey of San Vincenzo al Volturno in central Italy. This volume gives a general introduction to this important project, a description of the archaeological remains, and then detailed accounts of the excavation of the Carolingian Crypt Church, the `South Church', the Refectory, the Garden Court and the Entrance Hall. Also included is a reappraisal of the cycle of paintings in the crypt in the light of the excavations.
Book 16
Between Text and Territory
by Kim Bowes, Karen Francis, and Richard Hodges
Published 8 February 2007
The San Vincenzo Project, focused upon the Benedictine monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno, in central Italy, was launched in 1980. In addition to developing the archaeological potential of the well-known ninth-century painted crypt of San Lorenzo and to defining the general character of the early medieval monastery, a major aim of the project was through a combination of survey and small-scale excavation within the territory to define the relationship between the early medieval monastery and its dependent communities. This volume summarizes the archaeology of the territory, placing emphasis upon the long settlement history of which San Vincenzo al Volturno was a part, as well as the dependent communities of the Benedictine monastery identified during the fieldwork. The volume includes an overview of the 1980-1 field survey (including investigations of the castelli in the upper Volturno valley and the survey and excavations on Monte Mare); the principal results of the extensive excavations on the east bank of the river, including the Samnite cemetery and vicus, the Samnite and Roman settlement, the early medieval industrial complex and borgo, as well as the twelfth-century monastery; reports on excavations at two hilltop sites, Colle Castellano and Colle Sant'Angelo. In addition, there are essays on the San Vincenzo community in Capua; on the upper Volturno valley in Roman times; a reconsideration of late antique San Vincenzo and an assessment of the upper Volturno valley in the early Middle Ages.
Book 17
The San Vincenzo Project began in 1980 as a collaboration with the Soprintendenza Archaeologica del Molise. Its initial focus was the small frescoed crypt of 'San Lorenzo' (later known as the Crypt Church), which was in urgent need of conservation. Over the following eighteen years, a large multidisciplinary project was undertaken involving archaeologists, historians and art historians. This consisted of major open-area excavations of the early medieval monastery, of which the celebrated crypt proved to be a modest funerary oratory at the northern limits of the site. The project also involved a study of settlement history in the Upper Volturno valley. This book presents the finds of this excavation.