Conference on Current Archaeological Issues in Ticino

Description

Dear ladies and gentlemen, the Museo Moesano Foundation is pleased to inform you that on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 8:00 PM, the traditional evening on current archaeological topics in Ticino will take place at the museum in San Vittore. This year, Moira Morinini Pè, head of the Archaeological Service of the Office for Cultural Heritage, will present the results of the project "Castel Grande 1984–1985," an international collaboration that once again demonstrates the richness, diversity, and value of the archaeological heritage of the canton of Ticino. The hill of San Michele, where the medieval fortress Castel Grande in Bellinzona stands, was the subject of two preventive excavation campaigns conducted in 1984 and 1985 in connection with the renovation work on the arsenal built in 1820. Under the direction of the then cantonal Office for Monument Preservation, these investigations were able to prove the existence of an extensive depression where the remains of prehistoric and early historical settlements were preserved and protected.
Forty years after the excavations, the evaluation of the archival material, the numerous finds – over 3,000 objects, mainly ceramics and stone tools – as well as the structures that can be attributed to the periods between the early Neolithic and the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age, has led to a publication. Coordinated by the cantonal Archaeological Service, the research was conducted by Samuel van Willigen (formerly Swiss National Museum), Domenico Lo Vetro (Florentine Museum and Institute of Prehistory / University of Florence), Cristian Scapozza (SUPSI), and Maruska Federici-Schenardi (Briva sagl / Museo Moesano), who will explain the finds and structures (especially a kiln for ceramics) from the Bronze Age during the evening. Registration is not required. Admission is free. A snack will be provided afterwards.

Highlights

• Presentation by Moira Morinini Pè on archaeological findings
• Focus on the "Castel Grande 1984–1985" project
• Over 3,000 artifacts from prehistoric to early historical periods

General Information

The Conference on Current Archaeological Issues in Ticino will be held on October 15, 2026, at the Museo Moesano in San Vittore. This event will showcase significant archaeological developments in the region, highlighting the results of extensive excavations related to the medieval fortress Castel Grande.

Location

Via Favera 11, 6534 S. Vittore, Switzerland

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