Comelico Superiore, località Passo Monte Croce Comelico, indagini 2012-2014: note preliminari

In 2012 and 2013, two archaeological campaigns have been undertaken at the Passo Monte Croce Comelico, an Alpine pass which links the Pusteria Valley to the Padola Valley, and more generally Veneto to Trentino Alto-Adige and Austria. The archaeological investigation was focused on the evaluation of a square earthwork (side of 60 m) with circular projecting towers previously identified in a satellite imagery provided by Google Earth. This plan seems to belong to a typology of Late Roman fortifications that can mainly be found along the northern fron- tiers of the Roman Empire. The archaeological excavations have confirmed the presence of defensive ditches and ramparts, made of earth and wood. According to the radiocarbon dating, the site dates back to a period between the mid-3rd century and the beginning of the 5th century. The hypothesis which assess that this site can be interpreted as a Late Antique castrum seems to be confirmed by this preliminary research, although the excavations investigated around 2% of the overall site surface. In order to extend the research to the surrounding area, a Lidar analysis is currently underway. The first results of this study are adding new data to the comprehension of the archaeological evidence of this landscape, underlining that the Passo Monte Croce Comelico played a fundamental role in the strategic control of this region over the last two millennia.