Campovalano Archaeological Area, Campli | Hours, exhibitions and artworks on Artsupp

The archaeological area of Campovalano is located on a plateau at the foot of the mountain of Campli and has been frequented at least since the end of the Bronze Age (14th-13th century BC) by a small settlement whose presence is attested by decorated ceramic fragments, flint arrowheads, and remains of hut plaster. From the Iron Age (9th century BC) onwards, the plain is occupied by a necropolis that will remain in use almost continuously until the beginning of the 2nd century BC. Archaeological research, which began in the late 1960s and continued until the early 2000s, has brought to light over 600 burials, making the Necropolis of Campovalano one of the largest in Abruzzo along with those of Fossa and Bazzano. While traces for the earlier period are somewhat unclear due to the scarcity of findings, this is not the case for the 8th-6th centuries BC when the area is organized around an 8-meter wide north-south oriented road axis made of beaten earth and small local stone pebbles, still visible in the archaeological area. During this period, the necropolis is characterized by the presence of circular tombs, mounds of earth delimited by a stone circle constructed above the grave where the deceased and their belongings were placed. These tombs, mostly located to the west of the ceremonial road, varied in diameter according to the age and gender of the deceased, as well as the role they held in society. Ceramic and metal vessels were common elements in the grave goods, distinguished by the presence of weapons (swords, spears, javelins, iron clubs) for men and spindle whorls, loom weights, belts, and pendants for women. Within the archaeological area, the largest burial found to date, Tomb 2, has been reconstructed to scale, allowing visitors to admire how the burial was arranged, with the deceased laid on one side of the grave, ceramic and metal vessels at the feet, weapons at the sides, and a ceremonial chariot on the side, emphasizing their prominent position within the community. The circular tomb typology was abandoned in favor of simple pits during the 5th century BC, for which there is limited data due to the small number of identified burials from this period. The area once again reveals numerous findings for the last phase of its life, between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC, coinciding with the inevitable Romanization of the entire Abruzzo region. During this period, burials are oriented in alignment with the ceremonial road, which continues to be used, with burials placed against its sides. Inside the simple pits, the deceased are laid supine with a few objects, including a single ceramic vessel and, for wealthy men, a ritually bent spearhead, while rich women are buried with a gold necklace, amber, and glass paste. The material from the excavation campaigns carried out in the necropolis is entirely preserved at the Archaeological Museum of Campli, established in 1988, where visitors can explore the history of the Campovalano necropolis through the exhibition of its artifacts. For more information on the museum's history, its artifacts, and visiting arrangements, please refer to the page dedicated to the National Archaeological Museum of Campli.

	opens - closes	last entry
monday	Closed now
tuesday	10:00 - 13:00	12:30
wednesday	10:00 - 13:00	12:30
thursday	10:00 - 13:00	12:30
friday	10:00 - 13:00	12:30
saturday	10:00 - 13:00	12:30
sunday	10:00 - 13:00	12:30

Campovalano Archaeological Area

Campovalano Archaeological Area

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