Camerino: Iron Age settlement emerges during Pedemontana excavations

Works for the Pedemontana regional road between Fabriano and Muccia have brought to light substantial prehistoric activity. In the municipality of Camerino, excavations revealed remains of an Iron Age settlement and features likely related to funerary practices in the surrounding area.

What was discovered

• Iron Age settlement: residential structures dated to the 7th–6th century BC, with at least three main huts identified.
• Structure sizes: Structure 1 approximately 35 m x 6 m, Structure 2 approximately 38 m x 7 m (estimated area 266 m²), and a third smaller hut about 15 m x 6 m.
• Ancillary features: numerous aligned post-holes interpreted as secondary buildings for domestic or craft activities.
• Ring ditch: profile of a ditch about 13 m in diameter, likely related to a burial whose funerary area is not fully preserved.
• Later use: evidence of Roman-era reuse, including pottery shards and brick fragments in fills.

Scientific importance and protection measures

The Superintendency assessed the complex as highly significant for the municipal territory: construction features and the scale of the huts appear to be unique in the area. Stabilization and recording measures have been implemented to preserve the contexts, coordinated with the project stakeholders.

Implications for researchers and visitors

• For researchers: the site provides material to investigate protohistoric building techniques, spatial organization of dwellings and funerary practices in the Apennine belt (7th–6th c. BC).
• For visitors: the area is currently under protection and not freely accessible; any future openings or interpretive trails will be determined by the Superintendency and announced later.

Location

Address: Strada Provinciale 94, 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy. Coordinates: 43.1399584, 13.0322216.

Technical reports are expected to be published in the coming months and, where appropriate, plans for site enhancement or guided visits may follow.