In 2012 and 2013 we carried out numerous archaeological excavations in the urban fabric of some historic centres in Tuscany.
The opportunity to work in countries that are still inhabited today arose from a series of public works (in particular remakes of utilities) during which we collected a lot of information from the field which was then elaborated using the study methodologies of the archaeological discipline (GIS of urban centres, stratigraphy of the elevations, stratigraphy of the subsoil, chronotypological study of the classes of finds, archaeometric analyses of the ecofacts and of any remains of the productions).
Coopera has worked in particular together with theMunicipal Administration of Montieri, in some streets of the hamlets of Boccheggiano And Gerfalco and in the same Montieri, where we are investigating the whole country, a unique case in Tuscany, thanks to the project of installing the network of district heating.
We have collaborated with companies that install photovoltaic panels on the territory and with theUnion of Municipalities of the Metalliferous Hills to carry out archaeological surveillance even outside of inhabited centers, but in areas rich in archaeological emergencies.
With these projects, we have found that much of the public works carried out by local governments in residential areas could provide, in addition to the immediate return on well-being for residents, added value in terms of knowledge and memory of the small urban centers that constitute the residential fabric of all of Tuscany, particularly in the southern area.
The data collection phase was followed by an initial phase of scientific elaboration, made public through various scientific texts in press, and a poster presented in a Conference in Massa Marittima.
Furthermore, we will attempt to use and manage this data through virtual applications, linked to the websites of the relevant administrations, and where necessary, we will develop a permanent way to bring the knowledge back to its original location, through small, non-invasive signs that blend seamlessly into the urban fabric.
These data valorization methods, real or virtual, will give life to a virtuous path, which from public works, often the cause of inconveniences and discomforts, will bring the citizen a improvement in terms of livability and of awareness of the places where he lives and to tourists new tools to understand the beauty of Tuscan villages.
