Indagini archeologiche nell’area della “Domus del Mitreo” di Tarquinia: campagne di scavo 2016-18 con documentazione tridimensionale

The University of Verona has been excavating the “Domus del Mitreo” since 2016. It falls within the area of the Civita di Tarquinia. Three years of excavation revealed forty rooms of a large building. They spread over five natural terraces sloping eastward. The stratigraphic sequence runs from the 6 th century BCE to the early 7 th century CE. The preliminary analysis of the stratigraphy has identified six periods of construction and occupation. In Periods I and II (6th to 5 th century BCE and 4 th to 3 rd century BCE) there are traces of the earliest frequentation of the site and the construction of the first masonry buildings. In Period III (end of the 3 rd to mid 1 st century BCE) new masonry walls are built, mainly in a “chessboard” pattern. This period defines spaces, rooms, and courtyards. A major building programme takes place between the second half of the 2 nd and mid 1 st century BCE. New rooms are built and paved with decorated floors. This continues into Period IV (late 1 st century BCE to 1 st century CE). During Period V many of the previous rooms are divided into smaller rooms (2nd to 3 rd century CE). There are traces of workshop activity. From Period VI (mid 4 th to early 7 th century CE) the domus changes its appearance. This probably occurred following an earthquake. This leads to a gradual abandonment of the site during the early 7 th century CE.