Campaign 2020
In the 2020 campaign we mapped the surviving structures and the environment of a traditional transhumance summer camp at Mandra Vecchia, still in use during the 1960s. On a local scale, the fieldwork goal was to establish functional zones, abandonment practices, the occupation chronology, and to document evidence that could be linked to traditional pastoral practices and routes. The wider goal of the campaign was to better understand the upland landscape, in order to extend the scope of the archaeological and palaeo-environmental framework that had been created previously in the Raganello valley (Raganello Archaeological Landscape Project; University of Groningen, 2000-2016). And thereby to improve our understanding of the role of the uplands in interregional mobility. For the mapping of the area, we used ground penetrating radar, magnetometry, photogrammetry of standing architectural remains, intensive and extensive archaeological surveys, and systematic soil sampling to map phosphate contamination.
The team consisted of: Peter Attema (University of Groningen), Wieke de Neef (Ghent University), Antonio Larocca (Gruppo Speleologico ‘Sparviere’), Remco Bronkhorst (University of Groningen / St Andrews), Arnoud Maurer (University of Groningen), Burkart Ullrich (Eastern Atlas Gmbh & Co KG), Steve Hayward (volunteer).
Campaign 2021
During the campaign of 2021 we aimed to collect more detailed information on the wider cultural and environmental setting of the pastoral camp at Mandra Vecchia. Assuming that pre-, proto-, and historic human activity in the Pollino highlands is directly linked to pastoral and wildlife mobility, as well as the availability of water and other resources, we focused on traditional routes, assuming that these represent ‘ideal’ lines through the landscape and the easiest access to the natural resources. Our starting point was the Madonna del Pollino sanctuary, as this is a crossroads of paths and an important traditional meeting point. The path connecting the sanctuary, Mandra Vecchia, and the Grande Porta del Pollino was the main route investigated in this campaign. Furthermore, we conducted targeted surveys in specific areas of interest: the Grande Porta del Pollino, a site reported by Italian archaeologist Lorenzo Quilici on the glacial moraines, and the area around Fonte Pitt’accurc. We also conducted cores at Piano dei Moranesi, Sorgente di Acquafredda, and Serra di Crispo to get a better understanding of the ecological phases of the uplands.
The team consisted of prof.dr. Peter Attema (University of Groningen), dr. Wieke de Neef (Ghent University), Antonio Larocca (Gruppo Speleologico ‘Sparviere’), Remco Bronkhorst (PhD student University of Groningen / St Andrews), Arnoud Maurer (University of Groningen), Ingar Witte, Jochem Dorrestein, Marcello de Vos (students, University of Groningen), Prospero Cirigliano (post-graduate, University of Siena).
Campaign 2022
In 2022 we continued to document the pastoral camp at Mandra Vecchia. The function and chronology of the structures was investigated by recording artefact remains associated with the selected structures. The description of the architecture was concluded by recording the floor levels. The spatial organisation and microtopography of the camp was documented with aerial photography, photogrammetry, and additional magnetometry. Furthermore, we conducted an archaeological and topographical survey of Piano Jannace, to establish whether this crossroads of mountain paths is associated with traces of human occupation. At the Grande Porta we conducted soil and geological studies aimed at documenting the topography and geological situation. Further activities consisted of vegetation mapping and interviews with pastoralists (formerly) active in the area.
The team consisted of prof.dr. Peter Attema (University of Groningen), dr. Wieke de Neef (Ghent University), Antonio Larocca (Gruppo Speleologico ‘Sparviere’), Ingar Witte, Marcello de Vos, Jochem Dorrestein (students University of Groningen), Remco Bronkhorst MA (PhD student, Universities of Groningen / St Andrews), dr. Sonja Filatova (postdoc archaeobotany, University of Groningen), Arnoud Maurer MA (research assistant archaeobotany, University of Groningen), Prospero Cirigliano MA (University of Siena), Benedetta Baleani (University of Buffalo, USA), Bernd Danhof and Steve Hayward (both volunteers), Martina Parini MA (PhD student, University of Groningen).
Campaign 2023
In 2023 we extended our research to the western part of the Pollino with intensive artefact mapping, topographic documentation of drystone structures, manual augering, and geophysical surveys at Piano Ruggio and Vacquarro Alto. We also started to explore Piano Gaudolino, the lower Piani di Pollino, and the route towards Cività with extensive surveys in the Acquafredda area and the moraines at the foot of Mt. Pollino and Mt. Dolcedorme. At Mandra dei Montoni we documented structures at the charcoal burner district to establish the function and chronology by detailed artefact mapping. Archaeological sites at Piano Jannace, Pitt’Accurc Superiore and Inferiore, Mandra Vecchia / Strumbunì were revisited to obtain more datable material. The pastoral structures at Mandra di Tarantino and I Laghi, visited during 2022 ethnographic interviews, were documented.
The team consisted of dr. Wieke de Neef (Ghent University / University of Bamberg), prof. dr. Peter Attema (University of Groningen), Ingar Witte, Anna Koopmans (students University of Groningen), Remco Bronkhorst MA (PhD student, Universities of Groningen / St Andrews), Marcello de Vos (PhD student, Universities of Groningen / Rome La Sapienza), Nils Ahlgrimm, Tom Seidel (both students University of Bamberg), Steve Hayward and Jochem Dorrestein (both volunteers).
Campaign 2024
The field campaign of 2024 was dedicated to a reconnaisance survey of the eastern part of the Pollino mountains. It comprised the routes departing from Cività to the Piano di Ratto upland area and further up to the Piano di Acquafredda near the Piani di Pollino. We also investigated routes leading to the Monte Manfriana and Colle della Scala towards the west in order to connect the 2024 research area with that of 2023 in the highlands above Frascineto. Also a reconnaisance survey was carried out along the Raganello river near San Lorenzo Bellizi and in the adjacent Conca d’Oro.
The team consisted of dr. Wieke de Neef (Ghent University / University of Bamberg), prof. dr. Peter Attema (University of Groningen), Antonio Larocca (Gruppo Speleologico ‘Sparviere’), Marcello de Vos (PhD student, Universities of Groningen / Rome La Sapienza), Nils Ahlgrimm, Tom Seidel, Rika Steincke (students, University of Bamberg), prof. dr Giovanna Pizziolo (University of Siena), dr. Carlo Tessaro (University of Siena), dr. Gaia Mustone (University of Siena).