Sbarcando al Giglio (GR). La ripresa delle indagini archeologiche a Giglio Porto a terra e in mare

This paper presents the results of the 2018 excavations at Giglio Porto, in the Roman harbour of Isola del Giglio. Archaeological surveillance during the construction of a small parking lot in the area of Saraceno brought to light a previously unknown part of the Roman villa and especially two sets of corner walls in opus reticulatum with remains of decoration with painted plaster. Vaulted substructures also appeared thus allowing us to identify this area as an intermediate space between the upper terrace of the villa and the lower sector, where the monumental northern semicircular terrace is located, overlooking the bay. At the same time, inside the modern harbour new remains of the Roman one came to light during underwater archaeological survey in the western part of the harbour. A granite bollard, probably connected to one of the ancient piers, has been uncovered together with the remains of architectural elements among which a series of only partially worked granite columns stand out. The concentration of these remains may be connected to the quarry of the Foriano (or Forano), located on top of the Roman Harbour which probably used the small Vado di San Giorgio (the main water stream of the area) as a way downhill towards the harbour and from there the cargos towards Giannutri or the mainland.