I fossati circolari di Acquaviva di Cagli (PU): analisi aerofotografica e saggi d'accertamento

To the East of Cagli, in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, in 2005 was observed for the first time many annular cropmark on the aerial photo of a flight of more than five years. In 2009, for the purposes of protection of the site, the "Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici delle Marche" entrusted to the authors the analysis of the aerial photographs, the mapping of the traces on the cartography and the direction of some early excavations. The study of the aerial photographies has allowed the discovery of a hydrographic situation more complex, partly different from the present, and also the presence of groups of annular cropmark into two other areas not far from the first identified. The excavation inside the two circles A and B, which have proved the ditches (and not the 'elf circles' or 'fairy circles' caused by mushrooms), revealed no graves that was expected, but in the first case the holes stake of a large rectangular hut with apse, dating from the early iron age and the seventh century BC, and in the second case the foundation of a square house, originally covered with coarse tiles and dated to the VI-V century BC. The complex and important settlement, to which to refer some tombs of IV century BC found in the past, was perhaps related to the place of worship evidenced by renowned votive deposit of bronzes of Coltona of Cagli.