Acropolis
The archaeological investigations carried out on the Acropolis plateau have made it possible to reconstruct an almost uninterrupted historical and architectural sequence. This extraordinary archaeological record spans more than four millennia, from the Copper Age to the Late Middle Ages.
History and Research Methodology
The scientific rediscovery of this key site in northern Etruria has been marked by three pivotal phases, each of which has reshaped our understanding of its historical development. As visitors move through the different scenes, they encounter artifacts and structures from successive periods, arranged in chronological order. Each element is carefully placed within the virtual environment to reflect its historical context, allowing visitors to follow the evolution of the Acropolis while maintaining a seamless and immersive experience.1926 | Doro Levi
Initiated the first systematic excavations at the Piano di Castello. He uncovered the eastern side of Temple B before the work came to an unexpected halt.1967–1972 | Mauro Cristofani
Working on behalf of the Italian Archaeological Superintendency, Mauro Cristofani identified the remains of the two great Hellenistic temples (A and B), laying the scientific foundations for understanding the origins and urban development of Volterra (*poleogenesis*).Since 1987 | Marisa Bonamici
Marisa Bonamici has directed annual systematic excavation campaigns that have transformed our understanding of the site. Using a multidisciplinary approach and rigorous stratigraphic excavation—combining archaeology, architecture, and geology—her team has explored the western sector, revealing the Acropolis’s Archaic phases and providing new insights into the religious practices and cults of the ancient citadel.Archaeological investigations have uncovered around one thousand pottery fragments dating to the Bronze and Iron Ages. These materials were recovered in a secondary context—that is, from layers used in antiquity to level natural fissures in the bedrock or as fill within the podiums of the Hellenistic temples—confirming that the hilltop was continuously occupied as early as the proto-urban period.
The excavations beneath Temple A uncovered a section of the earliest temenos—the stone enclosure wall surrounding the sacred precinct. Dating to the second quarter of the 7th century BC (675–650 BC), it is the earliest known example of its kind in northern Etruria.
