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MUSEO ARCHEOLOGICO
SAN
GENESIO
MONILS AND COINS
IN PURSUIT OF SAN
GENESIO:
Field survey in spring 2001
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In spring 2001, the local archaeological organisations – the Department of Arts and History from Siena University, the Archaeological and Pottery Museum and the Archaeological Group from Montelupo Fiorentino, and the Tuscany Archaeological Superintendence – conducted a research in the area behind the little chapel of San Genesio (San Miniato - Pisa), where human bones and building remains had been discovered during some scraper excavations. |
The area under archeological research |
 lead weight |
italic terra sigillata with a winged figure |
soap-stone fragment |
The variety and the provenience of the materials, i.e. the soap-stone , let the researchers think to a prosperous economic centre ( from III century B. C. to XIV century A. D.), which was propably supported by the closeness to important connecting routes and waterways such as the Via Francigena and the route connecting Pisa to Florence, the Arno and the Elsa rivers.Ancient documents ascribe his area to San Genesio borough (documented as vicus Uualari since 715 A.D.), seat of numerous imperial meeting, up to its destruction in 1248. |
The research has
confirmed the presence of building structures – some of which seem to have been
kilns – and the existence of a wide archaeological site. Among the finds,
numerous Roman and medieval coins, iron and copper slags testify an intense
artisan activity.
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