The story
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The
Archeological Group began at the end of the 1960s, even though its
official establishment is given as 17 Feb 1973.
Its first undertaking remains, after many years, one of the most
significant: their having been able to save from dispersal the well-known
objects from the Terrosi collection, and instigating their acquisition
by the Council of Colle di Val D'Elsa.
Following this, thanks to the trust put in Superintendent Guglielmo
Maetzke, they have been able to carry out many other activities:
from the cleaning of tombs under official assignment to current
dig campaigns, from the restoration of recovered objects to their
first classification, resulting in their publication; from conferences
to study days and congresses, among which the well-remembered "Etruscan
Phonology-Tuscan Phonetics: a problem of substrate" of international
importance, the documents of which, published by Leo
Olschki, have been put into the Biblioteca dell'Archivum Romanicum
Vol 39. More recently, in date order, the congress "Cities
and Territories of Etruria-towards the definition of cities of northern
Etruria" chaired by Prof Mario Torelli, the documents of which
are in the process of publication.
We must not undervalue the educational activities of the schools
in the area, from elementary to high school, who hold meetings in
individual schools, and who participate in guided visits to archeological
sites and to the museum.
In 1997, an archeological dig began at Quartaia, just outside Colle
di Val D'Elsa, where a production centre for ceramics, active until
the end of the VI century BC, was brought to light.
For some years now the Archeological Museum, with the exception
of the topographical section, has been constantly equipped with
materials recovered thanks to the efforts of the Group.
We would also like to mention the social events open to members
and their families which are usually directed toward places of great
cultural interest.
The offices of the Archeological Society can be found on the top
floor of the Palazzo Pretorio, immediately above the Museum, and
comprise the restoration laboratory, store-rooms, and archives. |