L’abbazia benedettina di Santa Maria di Valdiponte a Montelabate in Umbria. Per un’archeologia dei cantieri

Abstract

study started an investigation into the archeology of the largest construction sites that concerned the monastery. Given the limited availability of archival documents, the research was based both on the interpretation of the survey of the construction and the direct analysis of the artifact. Providing specific dating was not the aim pursued; in fact it was to highlight the constructive relations between some key interventions, which were not known until now or whose importance was not fully understood. In particular, the monastery and the remains of the original crypt, incorporated and re-used under the presbytery of the church, have been taken into account. Great changes have been identified in the East Wing of the monastery, where the original nucleus was formed by a first part of the bell tower and an adjacent room on the ground floor. In the west wing, besides highlighting many additions, a large space was brought to light covered by tympanum arches, which had been forgotten and was probably used as a refectory.