Monte Sant’Angelo (Terracina, Latium) before the Roman Colony

Three Millennia of Occupation from Prehistory to Archaic Age

Abstract

This paper investigates the pre-Roman phases of Monte Sant’Angelo in Terracina (Latium), a site extensively excavated between 2019 and 2024 by the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich. The primary aim of the excavations was to understand the monumental Roman sanctuary established on the hill during the Republican period. However, the fieldwork brought to light a substantial quantity of earlier archaeological material, allowing for a reconstruction of the site’s long history prior to the sanctuary’s construction. This contribution offers an initial synthesis of the site’s occupation history, beginning with the earliest signs of prehistoric activity. Despite the severe disturbance of earlier stratigraphy caused by Roman and medieval interventions, the analysis of the material culture enables the reconstruction of a reasonably coherent chronological sequence. Beyond identifying the main phases of settlement, the paper also explores the centre’s political and economic role within the little-known southern margins of the ancient region of Latium adiectum.