1The excavation of the rural settlement at Castellu, located in the district of Corte, in the heart of Corsica, was carried out from 1981 to 1985. Volume 18 of the DAF series sees the collective publication of this work, the authors having submitted their papers by June 1986. Although various practical difficulties had to be overcome, the results of this excavation are fundamental to our understanding of the island at the end of the Vandal occupation and during the first decades of the Byzantine administration. The Tavignano valley, in the Corte region, has been mapped archaeologically using both field survey and information handed down by oral tradition. The resulting picture is one of a fairly intensive occupation during the Roman period by a population group which appears to have largely assimilated the way of life of the occupying power.

22.1. Trial trench I (A. Carignani)

3The excavation located an approximately square-shaped room with an entrance on the north side overlooking the valley. The room had been built by making use of the natural fall of the land and by working the underlying bed of schist in order to gain additional living space. The well-preserved external walls stand to a height of up to two meters, but an absence of occupation layers prevents an interpretation of the room’s function. The destruction and backfilling of the room seem to have followed rapidly its abandon. The layers associated with this phase contain much pottery and building debris. Evidence of burning in these layers suggests that a fire had taken place in the abandoned building.

42.2. Trial trench II (C. Vismara)

5The excavation was located at the southern extremity of the large north-south wall which is remarkable for its re-use of Roman worked-stone. Many of these stones have mortar on their exposed surfaces. Excavation proves the modern wall to have no foundation and to be standing directly upon the underlying schist. The eroded surface of the bedrock is immediately visible beneath a thin layer of humus.

62.3. Trial trench III (C. Vismara)

7The excavation was located to the north of trial trench I, and two deeper test pits were dug at either end of the trench. However, a poor stratigraphic sequence and a lack of finds preclude any reliable conclusions.

82.4. Trial trench IV (C. Vismara)

9A ten meter long trench was excavated with two deeper test-pits at either end. Both the overlying humus and the uppermost archaeological layer contained much pottery, tile, brick, bone and charcoal.

102.5. Trial trench V (E. M. Loreti, M. Pentirlcci)

11Trial trench V revealed two adjacent rooms (designated A and B) located at a higher level to the south of the structures found in trial trench I. The stratigraphic sequence revealed an earlier construction phase during which the rooms were smaller in size. The only entrance identified is to room B, following its extension. The earth floors present during both phases make use of the clay which occurs naturally on the site. The extent of this building complex remains unknown, given the limited size of the trial trench, but other rooms are probably located to the east where two walls (US 13 and 52) have been partially uncovered. The destruction of the two rooms occurred at different times with room A being abandoned progressively, while room B was destroyed rapidly.

123.1. Coins (C. Brenot)

13The seven coins discovered on the site cover a long period from the 2^nd c. B.C. to the second half of the 4^th c. A.D., and are not particularly significant. However, three of them do bear witness to the circulation of small coinage on the island during the late-Roman period.

143.2. North- african pottery (F. Cocchini)

15A limited quantity of North-African pottery cooking vessels and table-ware is found at Castellu. The fragments discovered can be attributed to specific forms of cooking pots, dishes and lids typically found in 4^th and 5^th c. contexts. Recent research argues that this type of pottery comes from workshops in Tunisia which were also producing North-African Samian types A and D. North-African Samian types are also present at Castellu, though in significantly varying proportions : type A comprises only 2 % of the total while type C is totally absent. Sherds of type D, found in the two largest trial trenches, are particularly numerous in the occupation layers of rooms A and B (trial trench V). Approximately 90 % of these sherds come from pottery forms dating from the 4^th to the 7^th c. A variety of flanged forms have been identified : of note are the vessels of Hayes type 91 n^o 28, B and D, found mostly in 5^th and 6^th c. contexts.

163.3. Coarse ware (M. Pentiricci)

17An analysis of the clays used in the coarse wares found at Castellu suggests a local production. Too little pottery has been found for this production to be described satisfactorily, but of particular note is the high percentage of sherds from flanged vessels (including several mortars). These sherds are most probably from forms copying the Samian type Hayes 91 which was widely distributed during the late-Roman period and often copied in coarse ware, as has been shown by the North-African production of flanged bowls from the 5^th to the 7^th c. Narrow-mouthed vessels include a small group which is notable for its high quality and the type of clay used : a North-African origin has been suggested.

183.4. Pottery cooking-vessels (C. Vlsmara)

19Cooking-vessel forms have been classified as follows : ollae with a square-section rim derived from North-African examples ; ollae with flat-topped rims of varying thickness (a very common form) ; pots with an inturned rim and semi-circular handles (one of the most common forms during the late-Roman period and the early Middle Ages). Among the fragments which cannot be identified typologically is a pot with a decorated rim and a tubular appendage.

203.5. Hand-made pottery (C. Vismara)

21A wide variety of forms has been identified but there are few examples of each. Of particular note is a vessel shaped like a small dolium ; a large pot shaped like a flattened cone with handles ; a campanulate jar with handles ; a flanged lid.

223.6. Amphorae (A. Carignani)

23The amphorae fragments found at Castellu comprise a uniform group of 6^th c. date. Forms identified are : spatia (the North-African cylindrical amphorae of the late-Roman period); secondly, an eastern vessel which is the final variant of the LR 1 type; thirdly, a group of small wide-bodied amphorae often found in 6^th and 7^th c. layers. The third group was produced in North-Africa from the 5^th c. and widely distributed in the Mediterranean, perhaps giving rise to occasional local imitations. The sample, though small, is significant in demonstrating that the Mediterranean economy remained alive and active despite being broken up into regional markets. Certain major commercial routes were fully maintained and reached as far as outlying rural settlements far from the sea.

243.7. Glass (F. Cocchinl)

25Fragments of blown glass have been classified by manufacturing techniques, colour, wall thickness, and degree of transparency and surface deterioration. Since the glass is highly fragmented, rims and bases have been used to identify types. The Isings 111 type is found in the building-collapse sequence of trial trench I and in the occupation sequence of trial trench V. One fragment of Isings 105 (contemporary with type 111) has been found in trial trench I, and as a general rule it is found in 5^th and 6^th c. layers. Also found are glass necklace beads decorated with a distinctive eye motif. These beads were produced throughout the Empire until the late Middle Ages and their presence at Castellu bears witness to their widespread circulation.

263.8. Bone objects (C. Vismara)

27Several of the objects found are parts of toilet articles. Of particular note are a panel from a small box and part of a comb, both decorated with Bacchic sea-scenes. Many framing and joining strips have also been found.

283.9. Bronze objects (E. M. Loreti)

29Objects have been divided into three groups in order to simplify their presentation: personal objects, domestic objects, and objects of indeterminate function. Personal objects include bow-shaped brooches with hinged pins, and an exceptional oval-shaped cloisonné brooch. Domestic objects include spindle-whorl ends, appliqué-work and handles from vessels, spatulae and small cones. Of particular note is a conical weight. Numerous incomplete objects remain unidentified. Those objects which are datable can be attributed to the 5th and 6th c.

303.10. Iron objects (R. Martorelli)

31The numerous iron objects have been classified under the headings of construction (nails, clamps, hooks), daily life (knives, stili, tools, weapons, horses’ bits), and clothing-related objects. A certain number of objects and incomplete objects are unclassified. Most of the objects have a functional rather than an ornamental purpose and consequently their form varies little with time : typological similarities transcend chronological, geographical and cultural boundaries. However, where possible, comparisons have been made with other early medieval sites, suggesting a date range from the 5th to the 7th c.

323.11. Lead objects (R. Martorelli)

33Few lead objects have so far been found. As with iron objects, their form changes little with time, making relative dating often impossible. A typological classification is hindered by the fact that most of the objects are incomplete.

343.12. Fired-clay building materials (F. Pacetti)

35The study covers building materials found in the stratigraphic sequences of trial trenches I and V. Typological classification identifies three types of tegulae which show morphological differences despite being structurally similar. Stratigraphic evidence from the building-collapse layers in room B (trial trench V) clearly shows that all three types were used on the same roof, although in varying quantities. The study concludes with imbrex fragments and several examples of tegulae mammatae : both are of unusual types.

363.13. Rotary hand-mills, mortar (F. Pacetti)

37Few quern-stones have been recovered from the excavation. Of six fragments identified, two are nether-stones (metae) and four are upper-stones (catilli). One mortar fragment is also known. The majority of these objects are made from the fine-grained granite which is common throughout Corsica. Typologically, there are one type of nether-stone and two types of upper-stone, and one type of mortar.

383.14. Faunal remains (J.-D. Vigne et M.-C. Marinval-Vigne)

39Examination of the 25,000 animal bones recovered from trial trenches I and V reveals the presence of the Rat (Rattus rattus) and the Stag (Cervus elaphus) in Corsica in the 6^th c. A.D. The present study is the first of its kind in Corsica to deal with domesticated species. An appreciation is made of the extent to which progress in animal-rearing during the Roman and medieval periods was instrumental in the introduction of present-day species and improvements in husbandry. Hunting, though not common, was varied ; this is particularly demonstrated by the waste found in the building excavated in trial trench I. Calves were being reared for their meat. Butchery, although a cottage industry, shows a sophistication which is also found on the continent. The large number of partially-worked bones, particularly in trial trench V, would tend to indicate an as yet unidentified industry.

403.15. Analysis of seed remains : grain and fruit (M.-P. Ruas)

41The study deals with carbonised and mineralised seed remains found in a 6^th c. layer, The remains would seem to be from domestic waste. Although the sample is very small, twelve plant taxa can be identified, most of which are fruits. Two cereals, common wheat and hulled barley are also identified. Results concur with those obtained from early medieval sites on the continent and add to our knowledge of human use of plant food-sources during this period.

42Castellu is the first excavation in Corsica to have had a conservation laboratory on site, processing finds as soon as they were unearthed. The planning and organisation of the laboratory, as well as liaison between laboratory and excavation, are discussed. The report describes the treatment of bone, pottery, glass, bronze, iron, lead, worked-bone, amber and sea-shell. The materials used are listed.

43Given the small scale of the excavation at Castellu, it is impossible at the present time to assess the extent either of the site itself or the inhabited area. Nonetheless, certain aspects of this rural island community are already becoming apparent. Though far from the sea and only accessible by what would have been mountain tracks rather than paved roads, it was still very much in contact with the outside world. Its economy enabled it to acquire products which were common-place in other parts of the Empire. Excavation, though restricted to an area where there are few stone structures, demonstrates in several ways the degree to which this part of inner Corsica was romanised. This influence can be seen both in the domestic and craft-related artefacts and in the faunal remains. The detailed analysis of the latter, which are both quantitatively and qualitatively significant and well dated, underlines a very clear change in eating habits between the pre-Roman and late-Roman periods. Animal breeding is distinctly predominant and hunting has a very secondary role. However, the excavation is of particular importance in breaking new historical ground : it proves the continued vitality of society at a local level and the extent of economic exchange with Vandal and, later, Byzantine North-Africa between the 5^th and the 7^th c.

44A macroscopic analysis has been carried out empirically on all fired-clay fragments recovered on the site, and identifies twenty fabric types. Fabric description is under two headings : physical aspects (colour, fracture, feel, hardness, and consistency) and inclusions (type, size, distribution, and frequency).